Europe’s ketamine capital is prestigious UK university city

A UK city has emerged as Europe’s ketamine capital, far outdoing the runner-up.

A study looking at the prevalence of the Class B drug in European cities has revealed that the British city had levels more than double those of the famously drug-tolerant Amsterdam, which was second.

Given its reputation, it may not be surprising that Bristol took first place.

Metro spoke to two former students from the University of Bristol, who said they used the anesthetic drug regularly.

The pair – who did not wish to be named – said it was easy to access ketamine during their time living in the city.

The first said he took ketamine multiple times a week for two years, sometimes while staying in with friends rather than going out.

He said: ‘I probably would say I was addicted – feeling the need to use it a lot. 

‘As soon as I left Bristol, I haven’t even touched it or thought about it since. It’s like the city did something to me. Since being in London, I haven’t felt the same. 

‘It’s very much in the culture of Bristol. It goes hand-in-hand with rave culture, and it’s very easily accessible.’ 

While he was able to balance work with drug-taking, he said: ‘There were a lot of people who went to a very dark place: total isolation, always got it on them and constantly taking it.’ 

The student said they realised they had to stop taking the drug when they started suffering from a phenomenon known as ‘k-cramps’.

‘Less people have heard of it than ket bladder (damage to the urinary tract caused by ketamine use), but more people tend to get it.

‘If you’ve done a bit too much the night before, the following day you wake up with the craziest deep-seated cramps in your lower back. That’s probably the worst pain I’ve experienced.

‘I’ve had my appendix burst, and that’s supposed to be bad, but this was worse.’

Another former student used to be a volunteer for the Bristol Drug Project, a harm reduction and treatment charity. He agreed ketamine use was intertwined with Bristol’s music culture and was easily obtained in the city. 

He said: ‘A lot of people see it almost like alcohol in Bristol.

‘I think it’s sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If everyone around you is doing it, it becomes part of the culture.

‘Because of how available it is, how widespread, that becomes the norm.  If you wanted it, it was there.’ 

He said he also used the drug regularly before becoming involved in the charity. ‘My first instinct every time I was going out was to [use], so I started toning it down.’

Ketamine is most commonly used as an anaesthetic and tranquiliser for large animals, including horses, and can be used in human medical contexts, also as an anaesthetic.

Talk to FRANK, a drug advisory and harm prevention service, describes it as a grainy white or light brown powder that has dissociative effects.

Some users claim its relatively low street price is part of its appeal.

As it is a Class B drug, the penalty for possession of ketamine is up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Meanwhile, the maximum penalty for supply and production is a prison sentence of up to 14 years, an unlimited fine or both.

Researchers at the European Union Drugs Agency analyzed wastewater for the prevalence of different drugs across multiple cities in Europe.

Bristol had a European-high daily average of 339mg of ketamine per 1,000 people, vastly higher than Amsterdam, which had a daily average of 149mg. 

Of all the drugs they tested for, ketamine saw the largest increase: 41% from 2024 to 2025 in Europe. 

A female student said: ‘There was a huge demand from the students in the student village, and it was really easy to get. Everyone just seemed to have some. 

‘It’s obviously really sad, some of the implications of it. I knew a few people who became really seriously addicted, and it messed up their life quite a bit.’

Superintendent Steph McKenna, Avon and Somerset’s drugs lead, said: ‘It is widely recognized the serious harm illegal drugs, such as ketamine, can cause.

‘For that reason we work closely with council public health teams and key partners – such as the Bristol Combatting Drugs Partnership (CDP) – to help keep the public safe.

‘A number of arrests have been made in recent years of people being found in possession of ketamine. In many cases those individuals have been charged and brought before the courts, but in some instances for lower-level offenses, it’s felt a more productive way forward is an educational one as that can lead to better long-term outcomes.

‘Ultimately, our main focus is about stopping ketamine reaching people in the first place, which is why we would place greater emphasis on targeting drug suppliers who are profiteering from the misery drugs cause. We have successfully been able to bring a number of such offenders to justice in recent years and will continue to do so.’

The force this year has made 91 seizures of ketamine, totalling more than 5kg.

While questioning some of the data, Bristol City Council said they recognize the risks and harms of the dissociative drug and continue to invest in prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services – including launching the UK’s first regular drug-checking service – helping to improve access to specialist support for people affected by ketamine and other substances.