Overview

• Isabella Gawley, 19, developed a severe ketamine addiction after first using the drug at age 16, eventually spending £30,000 on her habit.
• Her addiction caused her weight to drop to a life-threatening three and a half stone and resulted in severe organ damage, including bladder and kidney issues.
• In October 2024, she suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest after abstaining from ketamine for five days, leaving her temporarily paralyzed and requiring emergency CPR and defibrillation.
• Now physically recovered and six months sober, Isabella is raising awareness about ketamine's dangers, warning that children as young as 12 are using the drug.
• Government data highlights a tripling of ketamine use among 16–24 year olds in England since 2016, with related deaths continuing to rise.