The consumption of ketamine in England saw the largest estimated increase among key drug types measured in wastewater between 2023-24 and 2024-25, Home Office figures have revealed.
Compiling data from wastewater analysis, scientists calculated that 30,800 kilograms of the dangerous class B drug were consumed nationally — a rise of 54 per cent on the previous year — equating to £0.9 billion pounds in illegal sales.
Between 2021 and 2025, ketamine saw the second largest estimated increase in consumption among the illegal drugs detected, rising by 229 per cent over four years.
Addiction
The most recent data showed that Liverpool, Brighton, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Bristol returned the highest levels of ketamine consumption in England and Scotland.
Authors noted that ketamine is consumed “consistently throughout the week indicating more regular and potentially problematic use”.
Substances, including ketamine, heroin and cocaine, were monitored across 50 wastewater treatment plants in England and Scotland, covering 32 per cent of the combined populations.
Cocaine consumption increased by an estimated 26 per cent between 2021 and 2025, and in the latest figures was reportedly the most widely used drug with the highest market value — equating to 123,000 kilograms worth £9.8 billion.
‘Evil drug’
Speaking at the inquest of 21-year-old Josh Perry, a ketamine addict who died after falling from a multi-storey carpark, mum Natasha said that her son would still be here “were not for the evil drug”.
“I want people to realise that there is an epidemic of this drug and that (it) is infecting our children because it is too freely available.
“Something needs to be done to prevent more families from suffering the heartache we are being forced to endure.”
Toxicology reports showed ketamine in Perry’s system the night he died.
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