Ketamine Deaths Almost Doubled in a Year: Why Testing Awareness Matters

Ketamine Deaths Almost Doubled in a Year: Why Testing Awareness Matters

Ketamine deaths almost doubled in a year, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Ketamine was mentioned in 115 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2025, up from 60 in 2024. Ten years earlier, the figure was just 7.

The numbers come from a report that made headlines because cocaine overtook heroin as the substance most often involved in drug-poisoning deaths. The rise in ketamine deaths received less attention, but it matters to employers, families and anyone responsible for drug testing. Many drug tests do not check for ketamine at all, so a negative result may not tell you as much as you think.

This guide explains what the figures show, what they do not show, and how to check that your drug test includes ketamine.

What do the new ketamine death figures show?

The ONS published its latest drug-poisoning statistics on 4 November 2026. They show a sharp long-term rise in deaths where ketamine was mentioned on the death certificate.

Year of registration	Deaths mentioning ketamine (England and Wales)
2015	7
2020	27
2024	60
2025	115

That is a 92% increase in a single year, and more than 16 times the 2015 figure. It also goes against the wider trend. Total drug-poisoning deaths fell slightly, from 5,565 in 2024 to 5,519 in 2025, although the ONS says they remain historically high.

Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own statistics, and both have also recorded rises. In Scotland, the number of deaths involving ketamine increased from 1 in 2014 to 21 in 2024.

What the figures do not show

Behind each of these numbers is a person, and the rise is serious. It is still worth being clear about what the statistics measure:

• Ketamine was mentioned, but it may not have been the only cause. The figures count deaths where ketamine appears on the death certificate. More than half of all drug-poisoning deaths involve more than one drug, and it is often impossible to say which substance was mainly responsible.
• Deaths from ketamine alone are uncommon. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) reports that other drugs or health problems are usually involved.
• The deaths did not all happen in 2025. The figures are based on when a death was registered, and inquests take time. Of all drug-poisoning deaths registered in 2025, 62.7% happened in earlier years.
• The true number could be higher. In 2025, 22.5% of drug-poisoning deaths had no specific substance recorded, so figures for individual drugs may be an underestimate.

Separate research supports the wider concern. The National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, which sees toxicology results, found that illicit ketamine was detected in far more deaths than a decade ago. Its figures rose from 15 deaths in 2014 to a projected 197 in 2024. Ketamine was judged to have contributed to the death in 43% of the 2024 cases, compared with 60% in 2014. In the rest, it was treated as an incidental finding.

Why are ketamine harms rising?

The ONS bulletin does not explain the jump in deaths, and one year's figures should be treated with caution. However, the ACMD's 2026 review describes a clear pattern of growing harm:

• Use is higher than it was a decade ago. Around 264,000 people aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales reported using ketamine in the year ending March 2025, or 0.8%. That is below the 2022 to 2023 peak of 299,000, but up from 160,000 in the year ending March 2015.
• Young adults are more likely to use it. Among 16 to 24 year olds, 2.0% reported use in the last year. Ketamine was more commonly reported in this age group than MDMA or nitrous oxide, and only slightly less than powder cocaine.
• More people need treatment. The number of people in England starting treatment for ketamine use rose from 426 in 2014 to 2015 to 5,365 in 2024 to 2025.
• Hospitals are seeing more of it. In a study of people attending emergency departments with suspected illicit drug toxicity, ketamine detections rose from 7% in 2015 to 21% in 2023.

Respondents to the ACMD's call for evidence described ketamine as cheap, easy to get and socially acceptable, with little hangover. Many people use it occasionally, but an estimated 5 to 8% develop problematic use involving high daily doses. That is where the most serious long-term harm is seen.

Mixing drugs adds to the risk. Taking ketamine with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines can substantially increase the risk of overdose. The strength of street ketamine also varies widely, and the ACMD reports samples with purity ranging from 2.4% to 99.9%, some containing other substances.

The long-term damage people often do not expect

Deaths are only part of the picture. The ACMD warns that long-term ketamine use can cause life-changing harm, and that users may not understand the risk until damage has already been done.

• Bladder and urinary damage: about a quarter of regular users report at least one urinary symptom. These can include pain, urgency, passing urine very often, incontinence and blood in the urine.
• Stomach pain: severe abdominal pain, sometimes called "K-cramps", affects more than a quarter of regular users.
• Liver and bile duct damage: this occurs in about 10% of people who use ketamine regularly, and prolonged use can cause lasting damage.
• Dependence: tolerance can lead people to use more, and some experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop.

Anyone who uses ketamine and notices these symptoms should see a GP promptly. For more background, see our ketamine information page.

Why testing awareness matters: not every drug test includes ketamine

A rapid drug test can only detect the drugs on its panel. Ketamine has its own test line, usually marked KET. The cannabis, cocaine, opiate and amphetamine lines will not pick it up, so a test without a KET line will miss it completely. See our guide to what KET means on a urine drug test for help reading the result.

This catches people out because a test can screen for many drugs and still leave ketamine out. In our own range, for example:

• Includes KET: ALLTEST Workplace 13, Railside & Construction 12 and Behemoth 17 urine cups, the Split Key PRO Workplace cup, and the Workplace 10, Workplace (ALC) 11 and Construction 12 saliva tests
• Does not include KET: ALLTEST Recruitment 7 urine cup, Split Key PRO Industry cup, and the Workplace 6 and Driver 12 saliva tests

Before you buy, check the full drug list for "KET" or "ketamine". If you already test regularly, it is also worth checking which drugs your current kits cover.

See every test that includes ketamine.

How long can ketamine be detected?

Detection times depend on the type of test, its cut-off level, and how much and how often ketamine has been used. These are typical windows:

Test type	Typical detection window
Saliva (50 ng/ml)	Up to 2 to 3 days
Urine (1000 ng/ml)	Up to 3 to 5 days
Blood (lab)	Typically 24 to 48 hours
Hair (lab)	Up to 90 days

You can find full cut-off tables on our urine and saliva detection pages.

What this means for employers

Ketamine can affect coordination, perception and judgement, and it can leave someone confused or drowsy after the main effects wear off. That is a serious risk in construction, rail, transport, warehousing and other safety-critical work. It is also a road safety issue. In one analysis of fatal UK road collisions between 2014 and 2018, ketamine was found above the legal limit in 29 cases.

The new figures are a good reason to review your approach:

• Check your panel: if your test has no KET line, ketamine use will go undetected.
• Review your policy: make sure it covers all impairing substances, including ketamine.
• Train your managers: supervisors should know how to respond to possible signs of impairment. Our online drug test training covers the testing process.
• Confirm before you act: rapid tests are screening tests. Every non-negative result should be confirmed by an accredited laboratory before any disciplinary decision.
• Offer support: testing can help you identify when someone may need help, not only when action is needed.

Remember that a non-negative result can also have a legitimate medical explanation, as ketamine is used in hospitals, by paramedics and in some treatment for depression. Find out more about workplace drug testing, or browse our workplace drug tests.

What this means for families

Ketamine is sometimes seen as a safer party drug, and the early warning signs can be easy to miss. Frequent trips to the toilet, stomach pain and changes in mood or behaviour can all have other causes, so try to start with a calm, open conversation rather than an accusation.

If you do decide to use a home drug test, talk about it first and agree what will happen next, whatever the result. A test can give you information, but it cannot show how much was taken, when it was taken or how often someone uses it.

A negative result is not proof that everything is fine. The drug may have left the system already, or it may not be on the test. If you are worried, a GP or FRANK can offer free, confidential advice.

Which ketamine drug test should I use?

The right test depends on what you need to know. Urine tests show use over the past few days, while saliva tests are better for recent use. As cocaine and ketamine are sometimes taken together, a multi-drug test that covers both is often more useful than a single drug test.

These are good places to start:

Test	Sample	KET cut-off	Best for
Urine Drug Test Strips (Ketamine)	Urine	1000 ng/ml	Low-cost ketamine-only checks
ALLTEST Urine Panel Party (4 drugs)	Urine	100 ng/ml	Home testing for cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and ketamine
ALLTEST Workplace Cup (13 drugs)	Urine	1000 ng/ml	General workplace screening
ALLTEST Railside & Construction Cup (12 drugs)	Urine	500 ng/ml	Construction, rail and industrial workplaces
Split Key PRO Workplace Cup (10 drugs)	Urine	1000 ng/ml	Lab confirmation from the same sample
ALLTEST Saliva Workplace Barrel (10 drugs)	Saliva	50 ng/ml	Recent use and post-incident testing
Urine Lab Confirmation Pack	Urine (lab)	GC-MS	Confirming non-negative screening results

Is ketamine legal in the UK?

Ketamine is a Class B drug, and possession, supply and production are criminal offences. Its medical and veterinary use is legal under strict controls.

In January 2026, the ACMD recommended that ketamine should stay in Class B, although it said the decision was not unanimous. The council found that reclassification alone was unlikely to have a substantial effect on use or harm, and called for a wider public health response. Some police and crime commissioners have since called for it to be moved to Class A. At the time of writing, it remains Class B.

Ketamine also has a legal driving limit of 20 micrograms per litre of blood. UK police roadside kits screen only for cannabis and cocaine, but officers can take a blood sample at the station to check for ketamine.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died from ketamine in 2025?

Ketamine was mentioned in 115 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2025, up from 60 in 2024. This does not mean ketamine was the only cause, as other drugs or health problems are usually involved.

Do standard drug tests detect ketamine?

Not always. Ketamine needs its own KET test line, and many tests do not have one. Always check the full drug list before you buy.

Can you overdose on ketamine?

Yes. High doses can cause severe sedation, breathing problems and seizures. The risk is much higher when ketamine is mixed with alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines. If you are worried about someone, call 999.

Can a test show whether a powder is safe to take?

No. Our ketamine residue test can check a powder or surface for traces of ketamine, but it cannot show the strength or tell you what else is present. No drug test can show that a substance is safe.

Will ketamine from hospital show up on a drug test?

It can. Medical ketamine is the same drug, so it can trigger the KET line. Tell the person running the test about any recent treatment, and make sure non-negative results are confirmed by a laboratory.

Where can I get help with ketamine use?

Speak to your GP or visit FRANK for free, confidential advice. Bladder and liver problems linked to ketamine should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Final thoughts

The rise in ketamine deaths from 60 to 115 in a year is a stark reminder that ketamine is not a harmless party drug. The figures need careful reading, as most deaths involve other factors, but the growth in deaths, treatment and long-term harm over the past decade is clear.

For employers and families, the first step is simple: know exactly what your test covers. If there is no KET line, ketamine will not be detected. Always confirm non-negative results with an accredited laboratory, and treat a result as the start of a conversation, not the end of one.

Need more choice? Visit our specialist site, UK Drug Testing

The kits above are the ones I recommend most often for ketamine. If you are building a full workplace testing programme, though, you may want a wider choice. Our specialist sister site, UK Drug Testing, stocks a much larger range for employers and testing professionals.

Over there you will find:

• Dual chamber split cup urine drug tests, plus saliva drug tests from 4 to 13 panels
• Breathalysers
• Workplace drug and alcohol testing starter packs
• Laboratory confirmation tests
• Online drug test training

Not sure which test is right for your workplace? Take the quick quiz for a recommendation, or speak to the UK Drug Testing team Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, on 01263 731 168.

Sources: ONS: Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2025 registrations; LBC: Drug deaths from cocaine overtake heroin for first time; ACMD: Ketamine, an updated review of use and harms (January 2026); ONS: Drug misuse in England and Wales, year ending March 2025; The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014; GOV.UK: Drugs and driving, the law; Drug Testing Kit urine and saliva detection tables.