The mother of a 22-year-old woman who died from complications linked to ketamine addiction is urging the government to reclassify the drug as Class A. Ann Moralee says a dangerous misconception persists among young people that ketamine is safer than other illicit substances because it is currently a Class B drug.
Isabelle Sapherson-Moralee, known as Izzy, started taking ketamine during the Covid lockdowns in 2020 and hid her addiction from her family for three years. She developed ketamine bladder, a condition causing chronic pain and incontinence, and her weight dropped to just 5st 9lbs. Her mother spent £500 a month on incontinence pads and tried for 18 months to get help for her daughter, but said she was ignored as 'just a ketamine addict'.
On 24 April 2025, two days before her death, Ms Sapherson-Moralee discharged herself from hospital, telling her mother: 'No more hospitals mum, I can't do it anymore.' The inquest heard she died from respiratory depression due to combined morphine and gabapentin toxicity, with higher than normal levels of both drugs in her blood. Coroner Brendan Allen concluded her 'regular and sustained use of ketamine' caused significant pain that led to her needing prescription painkillers, which ultimately caused her death.
Mr Allen said he was satisfied she did not intend to end her life, but took more than her prescribed dosage to alleviate pain. He noted that without the sustained ketamine use, she would not have experienced the pain that led to long-term opiate use and overdose risk. The coroner confirmed he had previously submitted a similar report to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in 2025 following the death of 28-year-old Gemma Weeks, but the government decided not to upgrade ketamine's classification.
Ms Moralee's barrister, Antonia Jameson, said: 'The family want to see something good come out of this horrific situation. A further report could make them consider reclassification again.' The coroner said he would consider writing another report after concluding that ketamine contributed to Ms Sapherson-Moralee's death.
