Surge in ketamine use confirmed by UK wastewater study

A major Home Office study using wastewater analysis has revealed changing patterns in illicit drug consumption across England and Scotland between 2023 and 2024.

The Wastewater Analysis Programme (WWAP), launched in 2021, uses samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to estimate drug use. This method offers a more objective alternative to traditional surveys, which often underreport drug use due to stigma or sampling limitations.

 It also provides a more inclusive picture of drug use, capturing data from populations often missed by surveys, such as those experiencing homelessness or living in institutions.

 The study covered 30 WWTPs, representing 25% of England’s and 46% of Scotland’s populations, and monitored 20 substances, including cocaine, heroin, MDMA, methadone, and synthetic opioids like isotonitazene.

Key findings:

• Ketamine consumption surged by 85% between early 2023 and early 2024.
• Cocaine use rose by 7%
• Heroin use actually declined by 11% over the same period.

Here at Crimestoppers, we have recently run campaigns tackling illicit ketamine use in Lincoln and Northern Ireland. The UK is seeing large levels of young people using the drug, without understanding the true level of devastation the drug causes. 

The Home Office plans to continue developing the WWAP to enhance the UK’s understanding of drug trends and inform public health and law enforcement strategies.

 
9 July 2025