NHS Grampian Steps Up Action to Reduce Ketamine-related Harm

That the Parliament recognises the efforts of NHS Grampian, which is stepping up its efforts to reduce ketamine-related harm through the launch of a specialist new ketamine bladder clinic; understands that the clinic launch comes at the same time as the NHS board’s new social media campaign, targeting people aged 13 to 25 to raise awareness of the serious health risks associated with the drug; believes that the new clinic will mean that patients who are referred to hospital with ketamine-related harm will receive optimised care and specific education and resources as well as access to services to prevent the consumption of the drug; notes that NHS Grampian’s Public Health Directorate, in partnership with Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Alcohol and Drug Partnership, has designed a new campaign, Use Ketamine? Stop and Think, which aims to provide clear, non-judgemental information about the potential harms of ketamine, including the dangers of mixing substances, taking drugs alone, taking unknown substances and the long-term impact on physical and mental health; commends the efforts of NHS Grampian and its partner organisations involved in bringing forward both the clinic and the social media campaign, and hopes for its success going forward.