Increased recreational ketamine use and subsequent outbreak of urological complications in The Netherlands.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) June 17, 2025 Antoinette J H P van Riel, Wouter M H van der Sanden, Laetitia M O de Kort 4 citations
Recreational ketamine use in the Netherlands has risen sharply from 2018 to 2024, with poison center calls about ketamine intoxication increasing from 33 to 139 per year. A dedicated urology clinic saw patients with ketamine-induced bladder damage grow from zero to 137 over the same period. Long-term, high-dose use (over 1 gram daily for a median of 35 months, median 18 grams per week) was linked to urological complaints. Most affected users were men in their twenties, and the majority also used other drugs or alcohol. Severe cases required surgery, including bladder removal in three patients. The findings highlight a growing public health concern requiring awareness among users and healthcare providers.