Rian Rogers, 26, died from ketamine addiction in April 2023.Photo:Clare Rogers/Change.org
Clare Rogers/Change.org
A UK mom is sounding the alarm on the fatal effects of ketamine after her son, who she says was addicted to the drug, died from “ketamine toxicity.”
Clare Rogers, 47, says her son Rian Rogers was just 26 when he was found dead in his shower in April. She said he used ketamine so frequently that his bladder shrank to “the size of a marble,” according to an interview with theTimes of London.
“His use initially started at festivals like many youngsters do, after the death of his best friend and then being on furlough from the Covid 19 pandemic his use [escalated] and he delved deep into addiction that he could not get out of” Rogers wrote on herChange.org petition, where she’s hoping to have the drug reclassified as a Class A drug, a more severe category that carries stronger penalties for possession and distribution.
“His mental health deteriorated, his bladder suffered, he was passing blood and chunks of his bladder lining, he was suffering excruciating K cramps and then the vicious cycle commences, taking the ketamine which has [anesthetic] properties to deal with the pain,” she continued on the petition.
Rian Rogers dreamed of being a software engineer.Rian Rogers/Instagram
Rian Rogers/Instagram
Commonly dismissed as “horse tranquilizer,” ketamine’s “predominant legitimate use is as a veterinary anesthetic,” theU.S. Department of Justicepoints out. But it’s often used illegally and recreationally because it’s also a hallucinogenic that can make people feel “calm and relaxed,” theU.S. Drug Enforcement Agencysays.
The drug was named asthe cause of deathforFriendsstarMatthew Perry, who was practicing ketamine infusion therapy. His last treatment took place just “one and a half weeks before” his death, the coroner’s report stated. However, the report noted that “the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less.”
Ketamine’s impacts on the bladder, however, are less publicized. It causes a condition theNational Institute of Healthdescribes as “ketamine-induced cystitis (KIC).”
“Common KIC-related problems are urinary pain and discomfort, bladder epithelial barrier damage, reduced bladder storage and increased pressure, ureter stenosis, and kidney failure, all of which significantly impact patients’ quality of life.,” the NIH says.
“Furthermore, it becomes a vicious cycle when KIC patients attempt to manage their urinary pain with increased ketamine use,” which is what Clare said happened to Rian.
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“He was in a lot of pain over the last three years due to his bladder issues and would regularly take tramadol, ibuprofen, paracetamol et cetera but none could give him good relief to sleep,” his mother told theTimes. “His bladder had shrunk to the size of a marble. It was really ulcerated. His ketamine use was because of the pain and addiction.”
Rian Rogers poses in a selfie.Rian Rogers/Instagram
Rian’s family sent him to a private addiction and rehabilitation clinic. But three weeks after coming out, he relapsed. Once back at school, his bladder symptoms had gotten so bad he was moved to a room with a private bathroom.
And she told theUK Sun, Rian’s bladder capacity had shrunk from 500ml to just 90ml. He was on the waiting list for bladder surgery when he died.
“This drug is a killer,” Clare told theTimes. “It is taking bladders from young children. Why is ketamine not class A when it is doing so much harm to our kids?”
“It’s such a waste of life.”
source: people.com
