A six-week awareness campaign tackling ketamine misuse has launched in Barnsley.
The animation Its OK to Ask featuring Jack, a recovering Ketamine user was nominated for a BAFTA in November last year. Following its success, the campaign was launched this week.
The animation has also been selected for the London International Animation Festival.
Led by Barnsley Recovery Steps and funded by Barnsley City Council, the initiative aims to challenge misconceptions, reduce stigma, and connect people with specialist support services.
Ketamine, originally developed as a horse tranquilizer and anaesthetic, is a licensed medication that can be prescribed for medical purposes.
However, when abused, it can cause severe and sometimes permanent damage to the bladder.
The campaign comes as ketamine use reaches record levels, with an estimated 269,000 people aged 16-59 reporting use in the year ending March 2024.
Amid growing concerns, the Home Office is considering upgrading the Class B drug to Class A status.
James Pierce, Pharmacy and Community Outreach Worker at Barnsley Recovery Steps, said: “Even short-term, regular use can damage the bladder and kidneys and have a dramatic impact on mental health. Ketamine can seriously impact people’s quality of life, both physically and mentally.”
To support those affected, the next 6 weeks of the campaign are set to provide handbooks and digital resources for both ketamine users and professionals, offering practical advice and access to specialist help.
A former ketamine user, who wishes to remain anonymous, shared: “I’ve been using ketamine for 20 years, but it wasn’t until the last few years I saw how badly it was affecting my partner—and the chaos it caused in my life. It started ruining social events and my personal relationships.”
“They’re doing incredible work at Barnsley Recovery Steps to raise awareness, and we need to continue pushing for more recognition of the serious risks.”
Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities at Barnsley Council, said: “We’re proud to support this campaign and the way it uses impactful storytelling to raise awareness.”
“It’s vital that people know about the risks of ketamine use and the support available to them.”
Barnsley is at the forefront of the UK’s medical response, with its Urology Department launching a specialised ketamine clinic to support individuals impacted by long-term use.
Another previous user of ketamine told Shefnews: “It was cheaper then a tenner to buy, so I didn’t think twice about using it over and over. 5 years later, I have serious bladder damage and constant pain.”
“I’m glad more support and awareness is coming available, especially as ketamine is so normalised in the younger generation, I even know people as young as 13 trying the drug.”
To track the campaign through the coming weeks, visit here.