ITV join Forward at Ketamine Awareness Event in Kent

Hosted at the Turner Contemporary art gallery space, this This Forward-led information session provided an opportunity for various organisations to learn more about the physical and mental health harms associated with ketamine use.

Designed to engage with local health services, public bodies and educational institututions to help promote harm-reduction, this awareness session was keen to underline the significant dangers of ketamine use - and it's growing popularity among younger people in East Kent, but also more widely in the UK.

Talks by experts in the field of addiction and recovery included a range of perspectives and specialties:

• Dr Olaniyi Ajayi, Consultant Psychiatrist at Clouds House (residential rehabiliation)

• Abbie MacGregor, Community Service Development Manager at The Forward Trust

• Vicky Schreiber, Counsellor at Clouds House

• Sonia Hayford, Drug and Alcohol Practitioner, Dover & Folkestone Hub, The Forward Trust

The session garnered widespread interest due to the number of public health reports highlighting a rise in ketamine use, especially among 16–24-year-olds.

Darren Lacey, the event curator and compere, and also a Drug and Alcohol Practitioner at Forward and Inclusion Co-ordinator and LGBTQ+ Lead, said:

"Forward has seen a significant increase in the number of people accessing support across our services, many with incontinence and other issues associated with ketamine use.

"We were grateful to have such a strong mix of organisations that support people across the wider East Kent footprint, including the police, probation, NHS workers, youth workers, social services and many others. It's really encouraging to have weclomed so many representatives of these organisations to this event, and this is why ITV were so keen to put a spotlight on the significant ketamine-related harms we are sadly seeing in various support services in the region.

"Besides the dangers, we were also really pleased to welcome Amy to share a lived-experience perspective from the community. Amy did an incredible job of relaying her story, sharing the 'how', 'when' and 'why' moments that led her to access Forward’s support services to address her ketamine addiction. You could hear a pin drop in the room as she spoke, it was very powerful.

"We're really amazed to have gathered so many people that share the same purpose of reducing ketamine harms in East Kent. The importance of early intervention, the range of specialist support that is available that can make a difference (even in late-stage intervention), and most importantly, that it is possible to begin recovery - it's never too late - are themes that attendees will take home from today. That message really hit home - recovery is possible."

Abbie MacGregor, Community Service Development Manager at The Forward Trust, said:

“It’s so important services evolve with the changing needs of our clients.”

Support services at The Forward Trust

If you, or a loved one, is seeking support to work through a ketamine addiction, you can find out more about the support we offer in various service regions across England and Wales.

Drug and alcohol support services in the community

Residential rehabilitation at Clouds House

Watch and read ITV Meridian News feature

'Worse than childbirth': Kent mother's warning over rising ketamine use | ITV News Meridian

Photos from the event

• Sonia Hayford, Drug and Alcohol Practitioner, at Forward's Dover & Folkestone Hub, and her talk 'A Recovery Worker's Experience'

L-R:

• Dr Olaniyi Ajayi, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Clouds House, delivering his session 'What is Ketamine? Physical and psychological effects of Ketamine use'

• Amy, lived-experience, delivers a powerful and moving share as part of her talk, 'My Ketamine Journey'

• Vicky Schreiber, Counsellor at Clouds House, and her talk 'In-person Psychosocial Treatment'