Understand the harm.
Start the conversation.
K-HOLE is a UK ketamine documentary produced by Inspired Youth in partnership with Believe in People, exploring ketamine addiction and its impact on individuals, families and communities.
Presented by Matthew Butler, K-HOLE travels across the North of England to hear directly from people whose lives have been affected by ketamine and professionals who have seen the damage it is causing first hand.
Through powerful lived-experience accounts, family perspectives and professional insight, the documentary examines how ketamine use can escalate, the serious physical, psychological and social consequences that can follow, and the challenges people can face when trying to access appropriate treatment and support.
At the centre of K-HOLE is a simple message:
People experiencing problems with ketamine deserve information, understanding and access to support without stigma.
Viewer information: This film contains honest discussions of substance use, addiction, physical illness and distress that some viewers may find upsetting.
About K-HOLE
Ketamine is often perceived as a relatively low-risk recreational drug. For some people, however, occasional use can develop into frequent or dependent use, with serious consequences for physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships and everyday life.
K-HOLE explores:
- Ketamine addiction and dependency
- Ketamine-related bladder and urinary damage
- Chronic pain and repeated hospital treatment
- Dependence, tolerance and escalating use
- Trauma, anxiety, ADHD and neurodiversity
- Mental health and substance use
- The experiences of parents, families and supporters
- Barriers to treatment and professional understanding
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- Harm reduction and early intervention
- Recovery, specialist support and reasons for hope
- The need for coordinated responses to ketamine-related harm
K-HOLE isn't about judging people who use ketamine.
It's about understanding what's happening, recognising harm earlier, starting honest conversations and helping people access support.
Are You Worried About Your Ketamine Use?
You do not need to wait until the damage becomes severe before asking for help.
Consider speaking to a healthcare or drug and alcohol professional if you are:
- Using ketamine more frequently
- Finding it difficult to reduce or stop
- Needing more ketamine to achieve the same effect
- Using ketamine to manage pain or emotional distress
- Experiencing bladder, urinary or abdominal pain
- Urinating more frequently than usual
- Seeing blood in your urine
- Struggling to empty your bladder
- Becoming isolated from friends or family
- Experiencing problems with memory or concentration
- Experiencing changes in your mental health
- Worried about how ketamine is affecting your everyday life
Being open about your ketamine use can help healthcare professionals understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and identify appropriate investigations, treatment and support.
Early support matters.
CLICK TO REFER YOURSELF TO THE HULL KETAMINE SUPPORT PATHWAY
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
Seek urgent medical help if you experience severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, an inability to urinate, significant bleeding, collapse, breathing difficulties, severe confusion or another serious deterioration in your health.
In an emergency, call 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.
For urgent medical advice when it is not an emergency, contact NHS 111.
Ketamine: Advice for Staying Safer
Harm-reduction information from Change Grow Live
If you or someone you know has questions about ketamine, Change Grow Live is here to help.
The following information explains some of the effects and risks associated with ketamine and practical steps that can reduce some of the harms if you or someone you know is using it.
If you're looking for support straight away, you can speak to somebody through Change Grow Live's online webchat or contact your local Change Grow Live service.
CLICK TO USE CHANGE GROW LIVE WEBCHAT
CLICK TO FIND YOUR LOCAL SERVICE
Understanding Ketamine
Ketamine – sometimes called ket – is a dissociative drug that affects the mind and body.
It is usually a grainy white powder that can be snorted, swallowed or sometimes injected.
How Ketamine Can Feel
You might feel disconnected from your body and surroundings and experience an altered sense of reality. It can also feel difficult to move.
At high doses, you might experience an intense dissociative or out-of-body experience known as a K-hole.
Some people deliberately seek this feeling. For others, it can be frightening.
The effects of ketamine can last between approximately 45 minutes and two hours, depending on how much you take and how you take it.
Ketamine and Bladder Damage
Regular ketamine use can lead to severe and sometimes permanent bladder damage.
Ketamine-related bladder and urinary problems can include:
- Pain when urinating
- Needing to urinate much more frequently
- An urgent need to urinate
- Blood in your urine
- Bladder or pelvic pain
- Difficulty emptying your bladder
- Reduced bladder capacity
- Incontinence
Repeated ketamine use can cause the bladder to become inflamed, scarred and damaged.
If you notice bladder or urinary symptoms after using ketamine, seek medical advice.
It is important to be open with healthcare professionals about your ketamine use. Knowing that you use ketamine may help them understand what is contributing to your symptoms and determine appropriate investigations and treatment.
Getting Support With Ketamine
If you want to take steps to address your ketamine or other drug use, don't be afraid to reach out for help.
Support is available.
You can speak to your GP or another healthcare professional about how you're feeling. If you're able to, speaking with supportive friends or family can also help.
Free and confidential drug and alcohol support is available through Change Grow Live.
Support in Hull
If you live in Hull, support is available through ReNew, Hull's commissioned drug and alcohol service, delivered by Change Grow Live.
ReNew provides free and confidential support for people affected by drugs and alcohol.
CLICK TO GET SUPPORT FROM RENEW
Ketamine and the Law
Ketamine is a Class B controlled drug in the UK.
This means you can be arrested and charged for possessing ketamine.
For possession, you could receive an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
Supplying ketamine to somebody else – including giving it away for free – or possessing ketamine with intent to supply can result in up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
There are also laws covering drug driving, just as there are for drink driving.
Risks and Side Effects of Ketamine
Ketamine is sometimes viewed as safer because some people experience a more manageable comedown than with drugs such as MDMA or cocaine.
That doesn't mean ketamine is risk-free. Potential harms and side effects include:
- Severe bladder damage
- Urinary tract problems
- Incontinence
- Abdominal pain
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Memory problems
- Vomiting, particularly if taken on a full stomach
- Breathing problems
- Seizures, which are uncommon but serious
- Increased blood pressure
- Additional strain on the body's organs
- Rapid weight loss with regular use
Rapid weight loss can leave you feeling exhausted and may weaken your immune system.
Ketamine can also be particularly dangerous when mixed with other substances, including alcohol and some prescription medications.
Keeping Yourself Safer When Using Ketamine
- Using ketamine carries risks. If you choose to use it, there are steps you can take to reduce some of those risks.
Don't eat immediately before using
- Avoid eating for around 90 minutes before using ketamine. This can help reduce the risk of vomiting.
Don't mix substances
- Avoid mixing ketamine with alcohol, other drugs or medications.
Combining substances can produce unpredictable effects and increase the risk of serious harm.
- If you take prescribed medication, seek appropriate advice about possible interactions.
Stay hydrated
- Drink water before, during and after taking ketamine.
- Avoid drinking excessive amounts. Change Grow Live advises no more than around half to one pint per hour.
Never use ketamine to ease bladder pain
- Do not take more ketamine to relieve ketamine-related bladder pain.
- Ketamine may temporarily change how pain feels, but continued use can cause further damage and make the underlying problem worse.
Go low and slow
- If you are going to use ketamine, start with a smaller amount and leave time between doses to understand how it is affecting you.
Don't use alone
- Stay with somebody you trust.
- If something goes wrong, having another person present means somebody can respond and call for help.
Reduce damage to your nose
- If snorting ketamine, crushing powder finely may help reduce damage to the nasal passages.
Don't share snorting equipment
- Sharing snorting equipment can expose you to blood and increase the risk of transmitting infections.
- Use your own equipment and keep it clean.
Think about how you're feeling
- Avoid using ketamine when you're feeling particularly anxious, distressed or low.
- Ketamine alters perception and may make difficult psychological experiences harder to manage.
What to Do if Someone Becomes Unwell on Ketamine
If somebody is unconscious, having difficulty breathing or seriously unwell:
Call 999 immediately
Tell the emergency call handler what has happened and, if you know, what substances the person may have taken.
Don't delay calling for help because drugs are involved.
Put them in the recovery position
If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them on their side in the recovery position and keep their airway open.
VIEW THE NHS RECOVERY POSITION GUIDE
Stay with them
Stay with the person and monitor them until emergency help arrives.
Use naloxone if it is available
Naloxone is an emergency medication that reverses the effects of opioids.
Naloxone does not reverse ketamine itself.
However, if somebody becomes unconscious or has difficulty breathing after taking what they believed was ketamine, use naloxone if it is available. The substance may contain an opioid or the person may have taken an opioid as well.
Using naloxone in this situation could save their life.
Free naloxone is available through many local drug and alcohol services, including Change Grow Live services.
Don't be afraid to get help. You could save a life.
The Hull Ketamine Support Pathway
K-HOLE accompanies the Hull Ketamine Support Pathway, developed to improve how people experiencing ketamine-related harm are identified, supported and connected with appropriate treatment and healthcare.
The pathway helps both professionals and people who use ketamine recognise potential problems earlier and understand where support is available.
Ketamine-related harm does not sit neatly within one service.
Someone experiencing problems may encounter GPs, Emergency Departments, urology, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, social care and other services – sometimes repeatedly.
The Hull Ketamine Support Pathway aims to strengthen those connections and help people receive the right response earlier.
Ketamine Support & Resources
The documentary is only one part of the wider K-HOLE campaign.
Whether you use ketamine yourself, are worried about somebody else, support somebody who uses ketamine or work professionally with people who may be affected, these resources are here to help.
Hull Ketamine Support Pathway Resources
Accessible information about ketamine, potential harms, warning signs and accessing support.
DOWNLOAD THE TRIFOLD PUBLIC INFORMATION LEAFLET
DOWNLOAD A4 POSTER VERSION 1 FOR YOUR SERVICE
DOWNLOAD A4 POSTER VERSION 2 FOR YOUR SERVICE
DOWNLOAD A5 FLYER VERSION 1 FOR YOUR SERVICE
DOWNLOAD A5 FLYER VERSION 2 FOR YOUR SERVICE
Change Grow Live Ketamine Advice
Further harm-reduction information and advice about ketamine from Change Grow Live.
CLICK TO READ CHANGE GROW LIVE'S KETAMINE ADVICE
Ketamine Awareness Training
Our ketamine awareness training supports professionals to recognise ketamine-related harm, assess where someone is in their ketamine use and respond with the appropriate level of support.
The training explores:
- What ketamine is and why people use it
- Patterns of use, dependence and escalating harm
- Ketamine-related bladder and physical health consequences
- Assessing someone's ketamine use, needs and level of risk
- Identifying the appropriate response following assessment
- Harm reduction and early intervention
- Groupwork and recovery support
- Accessing appropriate treatment, including residential rehabilitation where required
- Mental health, trauma and neurodiversity
- Effective, non-judgemental conversations
- Referral routes and multi-agency working
- The lived experiences of people affected by ketamine
The aim is not simply to increase awareness. Staff should leave the training understanding how to assess someone presenting with ketamine use and what action should follow, from harm-reduction support and groupwork at an earlier stage through to helping secure more intensive treatment where someone's needs have become severe.
The training is suitable for professionals in Hull working across:
Healthcare • Social care • Education • Drug and alcohol services • Youth services • Criminal justice • Housing • Homelessness • Community services
CLICK TO BOOK YOUR FREE TRAINING
Why We Made K-HOLE
K-HOLE was created in response to growing concern about ketamine use and the serious harms being experienced by some people who use it.
But ketamine-related harm isn't simply a drug and alcohol treatment issue.
Someone experiencing problems may encounter multiple services – from GPs and Emergency Departments to urology, mental health, social care and drug and alcohol treatment.
Sometimes those contacts happen repeatedly before the connection with ketamine is fully understood.
Effective responses therefore require more than awareness of the drug itself. They require:
- Earlier recognition.
- Honest conversations.
- Appropriate healthcare.
- Effective treatment.
- Better coordination between services.
K-HOLE aims to:
- Help people who use ketamine recognise potential harm
- Help people understand when their symptoms may be connected to ketamine
- Encourage people to seek support earlier
- Help families and carers understand what may be happening
- Support professionals to recognise warning signs
- Encourage professionals to ask about ketamine use
- Reduce stigma around asking for help
- Encourage honest, non-judgemental conversations
- Improve connections between treatment and healthcare
- Share lived experience alongside professional expertise
- Demonstrate that recovery and change are possible
The documentary and campaign have been created for people who use ketamine, people considering using ketamine, families and carers, schools, colleges, universities, healthcare professionals, drug and alcohol practitioners, youth services, criminal justice services, community organisations, commissioners and public-health leaders.
The Campaign Continues
The documentary is only the beginning.
K-HOLE isn't intended to be a film that is released once and then disappears.
The documentary sits at the centre of a wider campaign using lived experience, podcasting, film, animation, professional training, harm reduction and practical resources to continue the conversation about ketamine.
The aim is to create a journey from:
Awareness → Recognition → Conversation → Support
The Ketamine Diaries
K-HOLE introduces these stories. The Ketamine Diaries allows us to stay with them.
The Ketamine Diaries is a special series from Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma.
The series takes some of the stories and conversations started in K-HOLE further, giving people the space to talk in greater depth about ketamine addiction, physical health, relationships, family, treatment and recovery.
Through longer conversations with people featured in and connected to the documentary, The Ketamine Diaries will explore the experiences that could never be contained within a single film.
KETAMINE DIARIES IS COMING SOON!
Short-Form Film & Animation
Not everybody will watch a full documentary.
Not everybody will listen to a long-form podcast.
Somebody might, however, see 30 or 60 seconds of somebody else's experience and recognise something happening in their own life.
K-HOLE will therefore continue through short-form films, clips, animation and digital content exploring ketamine use, physical harm, lived experience, treatment and recovery.
The purpose isn't simply to generate awareness.
It's about putting useful information and authentic experiences where people are likely to encounter them – and connecting that recognition with appropriate support.
MORE CONTENT COMING SOON!
Use K-HOLE
We want K-HOLE to travel beyond Hull.
K-HOLE has been created as a resource that can help start conversations about ketamine in professional, educational and community settings.
The documentary and supporting resources can be used by:
- Drug and alcohol services
- NHS and healthcare services
- GPs and Primary Care
- Emergency Departments
- Mental health services
- Universities and colleges
- Schools and education services
- Youth services
- Criminal justice services
- Housing and homelessness services
- Social care
- Community organisations
- Commissioners
- Public-health teams
You can:
- Watch and share the documentary
- Show K-HOLE to your team
- Use the documentary to start conversations
- Share campaign films and resources
- Use the harm-reduction information
- Signpost people towards support
- Access ketamine awareness training
- Share the campaign with your professional networks
Share K-HOLE
Someone you know may need to see this film.
Ketamine-related harm isn't always visible or well understood.
People experiencing problems may not recognise the seriousness of their symptoms, know that ketamine could be contributing to them, or know where to ask for help.
A family member may be trying to understand what is happening.
A professional may be encountering ketamine-related harm without immediately recognising it.
Someone using ketamine may see another person's story and recognise themselves in it.
By sharing K-HOLE, you could help somebody:
- Recognise potential harm
- Understand that their symptoms could be connected to ketamine
- Talk honestly about their ketamine use
- Ask for support
- Support somebody they care about
- Respond differently as a professional
Watch it. Share it. Start the conversation.
#KHOLE
About Inspired Youth
Inspired Youth puts lived experience at the heart of its campaigns.
Using film, arts, media and creative storytelling, Inspired Youth explores social issues and creates campaigns that raise awareness by amplifying people's voices and sharing lived experience.
K-HOLE was directed by Kev Curran and produced, filmed and edited by Inspired Youth.
About Believe in People
Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma is an award-winning UK addiction and recovery podcast and multimedia platform creating honest conversations about addiction, recovery, trauma, mental health, stigma, substance use and lived experience.
Hosted by Matthew Butler and produced by Robert Lawson, Believe in People brings together lived experience, professional expertise and genuine curiosity to make conversations around addiction and recovery accessible to a wider audience.
Through long-form conversations, documentaries, short-form content and public-health campaigns, Believe in People creates space for people to tell their stories, challenges stigma and helps audiences better understand the realities behind addiction and recovery.
LISTEN TO BELIEVE IN PEOPLE ON SPOTIFY
LISTEN TO BELIEVE IN PEOPLE ON APPLE MUSIC
The Pulse Network
The Pulse Network brings together people with living and lived experience from across Change Grow Live.
Through co-production, feedback and participation, Pulse members use their experiences to influence services, improve support and help shape positive change.
K-HOLE reflects this approach by placing lived experience at the heart of the campaign.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PULSE NETWORK
Ketamine Education Services
Ketamine Education Services (K.E.S.), founded by Finley Worthington, is a lived-experience-led organisation raising awareness of ketamine and supporting people affected by its use.
K.E.S. works with schools, professionals, families and communities through education, advocacy and peer support, and worked alongside the K-HOLE team as a co-production partner.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KETAMINE EDUCATION SERVICES
Support for Young People
Throughout K-HOLE, we hear from people who first used ketamine at a young age. Early support and honest, non-judgemental conversations matter.
If you're under 19 and live, study or work in Hull, ReFresh provides free and confidential support around drugs and alcohol, whether you're concerned about your own use, worried about somebody else or simply have questions.
ReFresh also provides advice and support for parents, carers and professionals.
K-HOLE Production Credits
An Inspired Youth Production in partnership with Believe in People
Presented by: Matthew Butler
Directed by: Kev Curran
Produced, filmed and edited by: Inspired Youth
Project Manager: Paul Haley
Producer: Robbie Lawson
Audio Production: Liam Powers
Drone Cinematography: Kev Jackson
With contributions from people with living and lived experience of ketamine use and recovery, families and carers, drug and alcohol treatment professionals and healthcare specialists.
Our sincere thanks go to everyone who trusted the K-HOLE team with their experiences, expertise and stories.
READ ABOUT THE PROJECT IN THE PRESS
K-HOLE Music Credits
K-HOLE features fully licensed music.
“Aura Cinematic” | Liam Powers [KOTB]
Music by Liam Powers [KOTB] • Licensed directly by Liam Powers to Inspired Youth for use in K-HOLE.
“Ket Mist” | Liam Powers [KOTB]
Music by Liam Powers [KOTB] • Licensed directly by Liam Powers to Inspired Youth for use in K-HOLE.
“Last Light” | Theatre Of Delays
Composer: Theatre Of Delays / Steve Bolch • BMI • IPI: 00370587737 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Stellar Sway” | Theatre Of Delays
Composer: Theatre Of Delays / Steve Bolch • BMI • IPI: 00370587737 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“The Universe's Embrace” | Tungsten Stars
Composer: Tungsten Stars / Kennoniah Dean Bellile • BMI • IPI: 1198693982 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Recursive Dreamscapes” | Theatre Of Delays
Composer: Theatre Of Delays / Steve Bolch • BMI • IPI: 00370587737 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“I Don't Know” | Solemn Slade
Composer: Solemn Slade / Zachary James Sprowls • ASCAP • IPI: 675560614 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“A Kind Heart” | Roger Gabaldà
Composer: Roger Gabaldà (Gabalda Guerrero Roger) • BMI • IPI: 387766986 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Tales” | Ester
Composer: Ester • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Impressionism” | Roman Senyk
Composer: Roman Senyk • BMI • IPI: 1166427646 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Polaris” | Roman Senyk
Composer: Roman Senyk • BMI • IPI: 1166427646 • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Part Of Me” | Andy Bird
Composer: Andy Bird • Bensound Certificate #202604258573
“Lost Ballet” | AM Sound
Composer: AM Sound • Bensound Certificate #20500690
“K HOLE INTRO” | KOTB
Written by: Liam Powers, Performed by: KOTB, Courtesy of: Enemy Lines Records, Licensed for use by Inspired Youth
“BRINK” | KOTB
Written by: Liam Powers, Performed by: KOTB, Courtesy of: Enemy Lines Records, Licensed for use by Inspired Youth
K-HOLE
Watch it. Understand the harm. Start the conversation.