Overview

• Beth Ashton, 25, was found dead at home on November 9, 2024, with her mother saying her body "just gave out."
• Her family says she became dependent on ketamine after a traumatic stillbirth in 2019 and kept her use hidden for years.
• Relatives describe symptoms consistent with ketamine bladder syndrome, including extreme pain, bladder shrinkage to about 30ml, and severe weight loss.
• She was admitted to Southport Hospital in September 2024, discharged after three days, and referred to the Inspire Drug and Alcohol Service while planning to quit.
• Her mother has created the West Lancs Ketamine Awareness & Support Facebook page and warns that the drug is cheap, accessible to teenagers, and can cause severe harm.