Are you worried about you child using or potentially using Ketamine? With a number of stories appearing in the media, many parents will be wanting to know more about the drug and how to start a conversation with their child.
Knowsley Council is committed to supporting parents and has brought together a range of information and signposting to give residents the tools they need to know more.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dangerous drug that more and more young people across the borough are using without knowing the potential damage it can cause.
The problem is not unique to Knowsley, with Drug and Alcohol treatment services and other health services across the country seeing an increase in ketamine use in young people and young adults as well as the significant health impact in recent years, with instances of ketamine related health impacts being reported amongst children as young as 12 years old.
What are the signs of ketamine use?
Parents in Knowsley are being urged to know what the signs of ketamine use are so that they are able to help a young people to access support. Parents and carers, as well as children and young people will not be punished for accessing support and so should be actively encouraged to do so. Signs and Symptoms include:
- Severe confusion
- Paranoia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of sensory perception
- Loss of coordination/control of the body
- Stomach cramps
- Pain and/or bleeding when urinating
Where can we access support?
- If parents are worried about a child’s drug use, there is advice and support available on how to approach the situation with them via talktofrank.com
- In Knowsley, drug support services are available for anyone aged 10+ and can be accessed via Change Grow Live. Visit www.changegrowlive.org/integrated-recovery-service-knowsley.
What tools are available to help me educate my child?
Knowsley Council has developed a short animation to raise awareness of the dangers of the drug ‘ketamine’ amongst its younger population. The video has been designed for children in school year groups 6-8 but the message remains suitable for older children too.
Parents are urged to watch the video and then watch along with their children to help educate them on the dangers of taking ketamine. Watch the video below:
If suitable, parents are encouraged to share the video with friends and in parent groups, such as Facebook and WhatsApp, to help raise awareness. Below is a message that can be copied and pasted:
Hi everyone – I just wanted to share this powerful short video from Knowsley Council about the dangers of Ketamine use in young people. It is designed for aged 11+, but I found it helpful as a parent too. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJ-BIUUfa0
There is also a range of information available from other organisations:
- https://www.changegrowlive.org/young-people/friends-family/talking-to-a-young-person
- https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/support-for-parents-and-carers/child-abuse-and-harm/alcohol-and-other-drug-misuse/how-to-speak-to-children-about-alcohol-and-drugs
- https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/concerned-about-a-child
- https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/drugs-and-alcohol/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/talking-drugs-alcohol/children-and-drugs/