Deaths following illicit ketamine use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 1999–2024: An update report to inform the reclassification debate
Jade Pullen, John Corkery, Rebecca Mcknight, Caroline S Copeland
Journal of Psychopharmacology September 29, 2025 DOI: 10.1177/02698811251373058 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Northern ireland Harm Legislature Legislation Medical emergency Criminology Medline Injury prevention Suicide prevention Poison control |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Deaths following illicit ketamine use have accelerated, with increasing complexity of polydrug use and socio-economic vulnerability, requiring policy responses beyond single-substance legislative controls. |
Abstract
There has been an acceleration in deaths following illicit ketamine in recent years, which are increasingly featuring complex patterns of polydrug use and socio-economic vulnerability. Policy responses must extend beyond single-substance legislative controls to encompass harm reduction, treatment integration, and social support strategies.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms | 2018 | Review | |
| Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant | 2018 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine Pharmacology: An Update (Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Aspects, Recent Findings) | 2013 | Review | |
| A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders | 2017 | Review and consensus statement |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 3
- Tusi: a new ketamine concoction complicating the drug landscape. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse September 3, 2023
- Trends in ketamine use among nightclub attendees in New York City, 2017-2024. International Journal of Drug Policy June 1, 2025
- Ketamine-Induced Cystitis: A Comprehensive Review of the Urologic Effects of This Psychoactive Drug. Health Psychology Research September 15, 2022