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NHS sets up Scotland’s first clinic to treat shocking rise in teen victims of ketamine
The NHS has opened Scotland's first dedicated clinic to treat teenagers suffering harm from ketamine use, responding to a marked increase in young people affected by the drug. The move reflects growing concern among health officials about ketamine's rising popularity among adolescents and the serious physical and psychological damage it can cause, including severe bladder and urinary tract problems associated with regular use.
The article text supplied was truncated before further specific details, figures, or quotes from NHS officials could be included. As Scotland's first service of its kind, the clinic marks a significant step in addressing a drug increasingly linked to young users, though the full scale of the problem and the clinic's specific treatment approach were not detailed in the available text.
In short
- NHS Scotland opens first clinic for teen ketamine harm
- Responds to rising number of young ketamine users
- Full article details were unavailable/truncated
Explained simply
Ketamine is a drug originally developed for medical anaesthesia that is increasingly being misused for recreational purposes. It has become particularly popular among young people, who may experience both physical and psychological harms from using it.
The drug is associated with serious physical effects, including damage to the bladder and urinary tract when used regularly, as well as significant mental health consequences. These harms are of particular concern given that young people's bodies and minds are still developing.
Scotland, like other parts of the UK, has seen a marked rise in ketamine use among teenagers in recent years. Health services are now working to develop specialist support and treatment options for young people affected by the drug.