Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.
A 21-year-old woman has issued a stark warning to drug users after her ketamine addiction left her needing the toilet 'every two seconds'.
Danielle Littlewood has revealed how her addiction to the Class B drug ketamine spiralled out of control, to the extent where she feared she could die in the same manner as beloved Friends actor Matthew Perry tragically did in late 2023.
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The drug, which is primarily used as horse tranquillizer, is also used at parties and it was something which Danielle Littlewood first experienced when she was just 19, with some children as young as 12 revealed to be taking ketamine after a specific clinic was opened in the UK.
While she limited her use to parties and festivals at first, the teenager went through a bout of depression and soon upped her usage, to the extent where she was spending nearly £300 a week to fuel her addiction.
However, as with all drugs, the extensive use led to some severe health issues, and she has revealed some of the problems she encountered, before she gave up the drug for good.
Danielle, from Southport, Merseyside, said: "I tried ketamine at a festival and it wasn't something I was really into [at first], it was more of a party thing at the time.
"[But last year] I started to use ketamine daily. I would have a bag every night and I couldn't feel anything in my body, I'd wake up the next day feeling okay.
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"About three months down the line I ended up in hospital. I started getting really bad ket cramps. It was the worst pain I've ever felt.
"I couldn't wee, I was in the bath constantly, I was on the toilet all the time.
"I had to crawl from the shower to my bed, for days I'd be in my bed. I tried to control the pain with paracetamol and a hot water bottle.
"My tolerance on the ket built up and I went up to two bags a day. It would be first thing in the morning and I would sit with a hot water bottle every night.
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"I was constantly on the toilet, every two seconds, but it was painful and sometimes when I was on the toilet, I really needed to go but I couldn't get anything out.
"My bladder couldn't hold a lot at all, as soon as I had a drink I had to go straight to the toilet. They told me if it carries on, I will need a bag.
"I had to sit in a certain position, crouch into a ball to be comfortable. The pain was like someone stabbing me.
"The only thing that would take away the pain was to continue taking more ket. I was passing out in the bath because the bath would help me, I was falling asleep in there.
"Because my bladder and my back were in so much pain, the heat of the bath and the pressure of the shower helped a lot.
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"I was in the bath for hours and hours. I stayed for three hours straight but kept going in and out all the time, just to ease the pain.
"I couldn't get changed, couldn't move, constantly laying on the bathroom floor shaking. Once I fell asleep and woke up to the bathtub nearly overflowing.
"I definitely feared for my safety because I had no one around me, I was really scared that if I carried on like this I would drown."
After suffering permanent damage, Danielle is now warning other ketamine users to stop before it is too late for them.
She added: "I don't want anyone else to go through this because so many people have started to get on the ket.
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"Everyone is on ket, especially my age, when you go out partying people are using ket, it's become more popular than cocaine.
"People are not really drinking anymore and just using that instead. It's so easy to get a hold of, it's so much cheaper. I spent £40 a day.
"I'm very lucky I stopped now and can turn this around.
"I watched ket take everything from my life, it took my car, it ruined a lot of relationships because I wasn't able to pay people back.
"I was always ketted, I'd go everywhere ketted, even to the shop. It's the new drug now.
"[When detoxing], the first few days were so painful, by the end of the week my bladder started to feel better again.
"I'd really say stop before it gets worse, it will happen to you. I always used to think it wouldn't happen to me, that my bladder is not going to get that bad.
"I really hope people can stop before it's too late, it causes permanent damage."
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: Mental Health, UK News, Matthew Perry
James Moorhouse