'My ketamine addiction put me in a Japanese prison'

"The night before her flight to Japan, Izabel Rose consumed the last of her large stash of ketamine with the genuine intention of having "one last hurrah". Daily use of the drug had started to seriously affect her health. Crying and in pain, she thought she'd hit rock bottom and desperately hoped that during this month-long trip, she'd get clean. But she said: "As soon as I landed in JapanI was on my phone, trying to source drugs.""

"Izzy's history with ketamine began when she started taking the drug while partying on London's rave scene. As an illegal street drug, people take it for the feelings of disassociation, relaxation and euphoria. Part of its appeal is the low cost and easy accessibility. Izzy says that among her friends, ketamine use became "very normalised" and the "weekend, party habit would turn into an everyday habit"."

Izabel Rose began using ketamine while partying on London's rave scene, where the drug's low cost and accessibility made daily use feel normal. After a year of increasing use she developed severe physical symptoms including difficulty urinating and abdominal pain she described as feeling like someone standing on her chest. Hot water briefly eased the pain but could leave burn marks, and the only relief often came from taking more ketamine. She planned a month-long trip to Japan to escape the habit but sought drugs on arrival and was arrested, spending five months in prison, an experience she calls traumatic yet transformative.

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