Warning: This article contains discussion of drug use which some readers may find distressing.
A woman whose daughter died after a ketamine overdose has explained why she thinks it would be better to make the drug legal.
Vicky Unwin's daughter Louise tragically passed away at the age of 21 in 2011.
The mum, from North London, said she warned her about the dangers of cocaine and MDMA, to which she would always reply: "Mum I’m not stupid, that stuff ruins your life."
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Ketamine, however, was never a drug brought up in conversation. People misuse the drug for its hallucinogenic effects, and regular use can cause serious health issues.
In March 2011, Louise took an accidental overdose and was found drowned in the bathtub.
"People who take this drug have no idea of the risks of addiction and self-medication, which can lead to incontinence and ultimately the removal of the bladder," Vicky told the Daily Mail.
"Giving it to excited teenagers or people in their early 20s without any instruction is like handing a chainsaw to a toddler."
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Although the drug caused so much pain to the family, the 67-year-old has revealed why she wants it to be made legal.
"Alcohol is legal and licensed, with percentage strength on the side, which stops people accidentally killing themselves – why not ketamine?" she argued.
"Ketamine never has been and never will be as widely used as alcohol and it’s well known that criminalisation just makes drugs more dangerous as it drives them underground."
Illegal use of the drug has reached record levels in recent years, with approximately 269,000 people aged 16-59 in England and Wales reported using it, according to recent Home Office figures.
Vicky said that telling others not to use the drug after Louise died was 'pointless, because when something is cheaper than alcohol – you can pay £5 for a bump, which is cheaper than buying a drink in the pub – they will take it whatever the risks'.
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The mum insisted that her daughter mistakenly weighed out what she thought was a safe dose on the night she died.
"Everybody got the same dose,’ she said. "She was 5ft 1in and hadn’t had any ketamine for some time. And the boys and her flatmate were much taller, and I think more regular users, which meant their bodies could tolerate it more."
When her friends left, Louise ran a warm bath and was found dead by a flatmate. Vicky believes that warning people of the dangers aren't stopping people from taking it.
"Ketamine is such a dangerous drug I’d much rather people didn’t take it at all, but we don’t live in that world," she explained.
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"Drug deaths in the UK are the highest in Europe, and they’re rising. Cocaine is a Class A drug, but usage is still going up. We all want our kids to be safe, our streets to be safe, but the sad truth is that current government policy is not helping to achieve that."
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.
Anish Vij