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| Advice sought on upgrading ketamine to Class A | Advice sought on upgrading ketamine to Class A |
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| Ketamine could be upgraded to a Class A drug as the government seeks expert advice on its classification, the Home Office has said. | Ketamine could be upgraded to a Class A drug as the government seeks expert advice on its classification, the Home Office has said. |
| Illegal use of the drug has reached a record level, it said, with an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 reporting ketamine use in the year ending March 2023. | |
| Increasing ketamine's classification would bring it in line with drugs including cocaine, heroin and ecstasy (MDMA) and mean up to life in prison for supply and production. | Increasing ketamine's classification would bring it in line with drugs including cocaine, heroin and ecstasy (MDMA) and mean up to life in prison for supply and production. |
| The policing minister will ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs whether its classification should be changed and "carefully consider" its findings. | The policing minister will ask the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs whether its classification should be changed and "carefully consider" its findings. |
| Ketamine can cause serious health problems including irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys. | Ketamine can cause serious health problems including irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys. |
| It is also one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking. | It is also one of the most detected drugs in incidents of spiking. |
| While commonly used on animals and in healthcare settings, ketamine is also thought of as a party drug due to its hallucinogenic effects. | While commonly used on animals and in healthcare settings, ketamine is also thought of as a party drug due to its hallucinogenic effects. |
| It was upgraded from a Class C substance in 2014 due to mounting evidence over its physical and psychological dangers. | It was upgraded from a Class C substance in 2014 due to mounting evidence over its physical and psychological dangers. |
| Currently, the maximum penalty for producing and supplying ketamine is up to 14 years in prison. Possession can carry up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. | Currently, the maximum penalty for producing and supplying ketamine is up to 14 years in prison. Possession can carry up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. |
| Should it be upgraded to a Class A drug, supply and production of it could carry up to life in prison,, external while possession could carry up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. | Should it be upgraded to a Class A drug, supply and production of it could carry up to life in prison,, external while possession could carry up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. |
| A coroner's prevention of future deaths report called for action over the drug's classification, after a man died from sepsis caused by a kidney infection that was "a complication of long-term use of ketamine". | A coroner's prevention of future deaths report called for action over the drug's classification, after a man died from sepsis caused by a kidney infection that was "a complication of long-term use of ketamine". |
| Greater Manchester South senior coroner Alison Mutch noted that James Boland, 38, started taking the drug as he believed it to be "less harmful" than Class A drugs. | Greater Manchester South senior coroner Alison Mutch noted that James Boland, 38, started taking the drug as he believed it to be "less harmful" than Class A drugs. |
| She wrote , externalin November: "Maintaining its classification as a Class B drug was likely to encourage others to start to use it or continue to use it under the false impression it is "safer"." | She wrote , externalin November: "Maintaining its classification as a Class B drug was likely to encourage others to start to use it or continue to use it under the false impression it is "safer"." |
| Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has pledged to "work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply. | Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has pledged to "work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply. |
| "It is vital we are responding to all the latest evidence and advice to ensure people's safety and we will carefully consider the ACMD's recommendations before making any decision." | "It is vital we are responding to all the latest evidence and advice to ensure people's safety and we will carefully consider the ACMD's recommendations before making any decision." |