A senior coroner has issued an urgent warning about the devastating dangers of ketamine after a 43-year-old woman's life was tragically cut short by a £500-a-week addiction to the substance.
The case of Samantha Morgan, who passed away in her Weston-super-Mare home, has prompted Coroner Samantha Marsh to call for ketamine to be reclassified as a Class A drug, putting it in the same category as heroin and cocaine.
A Descent into Addiction
An inquest into Ms. Morgan's death revealed a heartbreaking story of addiction that ultimately proved fatal. The hearing was told how the recreational drug, currently classified as Class B, had taken complete control of her life.
"Her use of ketamine was at a chronic level," stated pathologist Dr. Russell Delaney during the proceedings. The post-mortem examination confirmed that ketamine toxicity was the direct cause of her untimely death.
The Coroner's Stark Warning
In a formal prevention of future deaths report addressed to the Home Secretary, Coroner Marsh delivered a powerful message: "The dangers of ketamine are not adequately understood by the general public."
She emphasised the urgent need for heightened awareness, stating: "There is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken." The coroner's report highlights the critical gap in public understanding about the potentially fatal consequences of ketamine use.
Call for Legislative Action
The tragedy has sparked serious discussions about drug classification in the UK. Currently treated as a Class B substance, ketamine carries maximum penalties of up to five years in prison for possession and 14 years for supply.
Coroner Marsh's recommendation to upgrade ketamine to Class A status would significantly increase these penalties, reflecting the substance's potentially lethal nature. This move would place ketamine alongside the most dangerous drugs recognised by UK law.
As authorities consider this recommendation, Ms. Morgan's story serves as a tragic reminder of the hidden dangers lurking in recreational drug use, and the urgent need for both education and legislative action.
