Ketamine should be class A drug, coroner suggests after death of coffee shop founder

Ketamine is popular recreationally among some young people for its anaesthetic effects
Ketamine is popular recreationally among some young people for its anaesthetic effects - iStockphoto

Ketamine should be made a class A drug because people wrongly assume it is “safer” at its current classification, a senior coroner has suggested.

Alison Mutch warned that people were under a “false impression” that ketamine was less dangerous than other substances because it is class B.

Her warning comes after Jamie Boland, 38, a coffee shop founder, died from sepsis earlier this year owing to the long-term effects of taking the drug.

Boland, from Manchester, switched from cocaine to ketamine because he thought the drug was “less harmful” owing to its lower classification, it was heard.

The coroner warned that more people were at risk of succumbing to the same fate as Boland, who was a “chronic user”, unless action was taken.

Boland, who founded Ancoats Coffee Company in Manchester, died in June from sepsis, which was caused by an acute kidney infection – a complication of long-term ketamine use.

He was found unresponsive at his Manchester home, and had previously suffered from significant urological issues as a result of abusing the drug.

Jamie Boland died in June from sepsis, which was caused by an acute kidney infection – a complication of long-term ketamine use
Jamie Boland died in June from sepsis, which was caused by an acute kidney infection – a complication of long-term ketamine use - Facebook

Ketamine has been widely reported about over the last year after it was found to be the drug that killed Friends star Matthew Perry.

Writing to the Government, Ms Mutch also warned of a “significant increase” in people using ketamine, which is popular recreationally among some young people for its anaesthetic effects.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths report, addressed to the Home Secretary, Ms Mutch warned that action on ketamine must be taken.

“In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,” she said, adding: “The inquest heard evidence that previously Mr Boland had used cocaine – a class A drug – but had switched to ketamine – a class B drug – on the basis that he perceived it to be less harmful.

“His perception that it was less harmful was based on the fact it is designated as a class B rather than class A drug.

“The evidence before the inquest was that ketamine is a deeply harmful substance when used outside the purposes for which it is licenced for prescribing by clinicians, and that users such as Mr Boland are unable to give it up, despite knowing how dangerous it is to their health.”

Ms Mutch continued: “Maintaining its classification as a class B drug was likely to encourage others to start to use it or continue to use it under the false impression it is ‘safer’.

“The evidence at the inquest was that ketamine use causes huge long-term life changing health problems.

“In Mr Boland’s case it had caused long-term urological damage and liver damage. It was the damage to his urological system caused by ketamine that led to his death.

“The inquest was told that there is a significant increase in the illicit use of ketamine and that this has led to clinicians seeing a rise in potentially fatal health problems linked to its use.

“The extent of these risks is rarely understood by users until the damage has been done to their health.”

Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has until Dec 31 to respond to Ms Mutch, who is the coroner for Manchester South.

In October last year, Perry, 54, was found dead in his hot tub at his home in Los Angeles. The actor died from the acute effects of ketamine, which he had been using to treat depression, it later emerged.