Mother urges ketamine reclassification after daughter's suicide

The mother of a 23-year-old woman who took her own life after becoming addicted to ketamine is calling for the drug to be reclassified as a Class A substance. Sarah Green, whose daughter Honor died in February this year, says the current Class B status sends a message that the drug is not dangerous, and that tougher penalties for dealers could help prevent other young people from falling into addiction.

Honor began taking ketamine at the age of 15. Over time, she became addicted, suffering severe physical and mental health problems. She lost a significant amount of weight, experienced bladder damage, and became severely depressed and suicidal. She finally admitted her addiction to her mother in October of last year, but by then the damage was done. Honor took her own life in February.

Speaking on 5 News, Sarah Green described the lack of awareness about the drug's dangers. She said she had believed ketamine was not addictive, partly because it is used medically and partly because of misinformation online. She said the drug is cheap, easy to obtain, and often distributed through social media, making it particularly attractive to young people.

Mrs Green is now urging the government to reclassify ketamine from a Class B to a Class A drug. She argues that while this will not solve the problem on its own, it could act as a catalyst for change, making people take the issue more seriously and leading to tougher sentences for those who supply the drug. She said: "I don't think it's going to solve the problem of the epidemic that we have right now with ketamine in the UK and in youth. But I do think it could be the catalyst in making everybody wake up and realise what is going on."

However, some campaigners disagree. They argue that reclassification would increase criminalisation without addressing the root causes, and that the priority should be more treatment and early intervention. Mrs Green strongly rejected this view, saying that making the drug Class A would not criminalise users seeking help, but would make a difference to those who distribute it.

The Home Office responded to the call, saying: "Our thoughts are with Sarah and her family. We are committed to driving down drug-related harms and deaths and remain on high alert to the dangers of ketamine and other emerging drug threats." The department did not comment on the specific reclassification request.

Mrs Green has set up a website, h23foundation.org, to provide information and resources for families affected by ketamine addiction. She said she is trying to fill the gaps in the system that she wishes had existed when her daughter was alive. She hopes that by sharing Honor's story, she can prevent other families from going through the same ordeal.