A grieving mother has called for ketamine to be reclassified as a class A drug after the tragic death of her daughter, Sophie Russell, at just 20 years old. Sophie, from Lincolnshire, battled a two-year addiction to the drug after initially trying it during a night out in 2021. The addiction left her suffering severe physical effects, including chronic pain, incontinence, and significant weight loss, before she sadly passed away in September at her father’s home.

Her mother, Tracy Marelli, believes Sophie’s addiction spiralled as a way to cope with grief following the death of her grandmother. She described the devastating toll the drug took on her daughter, recalling how Sophie went from partying with friends to using ketamine alone in her room daily. Despite efforts to seek help, including a week-long stay in rehab and multiple visits to A&E, Sophie’s addiction remained untreated, with doctors failing to address its underlying causes.

Ms Marelli expressed frustration with the support systems in place, stating, “I feel she was let down by the whole system… I begged the drug support worker to admit her to rehab before she died” (The Sun).

She also highlighted the ease of access to the drug in their area, revealing, “She said ketamine was everywhere, she couldn’t get away from it”.

Ms Marelli expressed frustration with the support systems in place, saying she begged for her daughter to be admitted to rehab but was repeatedly failed by addiction services. She also highlighted the ease of access to the drug in their area, with Sophie even able to arrange pickups via apps.

Now, Ms Marelli is urging the Government to reclassify ketamine as a class A substance, warning others of its dangers. She described it as a deadly drug that is wrongly perceived as a low-risk “party drug” by young people. Ketamine, also known as ‘special K,’ has grown in popularity in the UK as a cheaper alternative to cocaine, but its effects can be devastating, causing severe bladder damage and addiction.

Sophie’s sad story has highlighted the growing misuse of ketamine among young people. It shows the need for stricter rules and better medical care to stop more lives being lost.

Source: Daily Mail