Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.
A young mum has opened up about the devastating and long-lasting impact ketamine addiction has had on her life, years after quitting the drug.
Amber Currah, from Morecambe in Lancashire, first tried ketamine as a teenager, initially unaware of the risks attached to the Class B substance. Like many others, she said it made her feel calm and helped her ‘switch off’, as reported by The Sun.
However, what started as occasional use gradually spiralled into a daily habit.
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By her early twenties, Amber’s drug use escalated dramatically. She has previously explained how the substance was cheap, easy to access and quickly became something she relied on to cope. At the time, she was also dealing with the pressures of becoming a young parent, something she later admitted pushed her further into addiction.
Despite stopping ketamine more than two years ago, the damage had already been done. Amber now lives with constant pain, severe incontinence and permanent bladder damage that doctors say may require a bladder transplant.
Speaking about her condition on Good Morning Britain, she previously said: “So as far as I'm aware, my damage is irreversible. My bladder is absolutely covered in scar tissue to the nines and I've been off it two and a bit years now.”
On the UK talk show, she added: “I would have thought it would have at least healed a bit more.”
It’s been more recently that Amber has been revealed that the pain and flare-ups caused by her bladder damage have also had a huge impact on her intimate relationship. She says she can now only have sex rarely and under certain circumstances, explaining: “Callum and I only have sex every three months, because I have to make sure I’m not doing much in the following days as I can have increased pain for a week.”
Daily life is dominated by trying to manage the pain. She has also explained on GMB how she relies on long hot baths just to function, saying: “I have to get up two hours before any deadline where I need to be and I have to get in the bath for two hours.”
Describing the pain, Amber said: “It really is, it feels like the most severe UTI you will ever have in your whole entire life. And it's constant.”
Doctors have warned that long-term ketamine use can scar and shrink the bladder lining, causing bleeding, extreme pain and loss of bladder control. In Amber’s case, her bladder capacity has been drastically reduced, leaving her unable to work and struggling with everyday activities most people take for granted.
Looking back, Amber has been clear that she wishes she’d never touched the drug.
When talking about what she would say to her younger self if she could, she said: “I'd say, ‘Don't touch that. It's not really not worth it. You're going to chuck your whole life away, for ketamine.’”
Now, she is determined to use her experience to warn others about the risks, hoping her story might stop someone else from making the same mistake.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week
Topics: Drugs, Health, Mental Health
Ben Williams