Support for drug and substance addiction is most effective when it combines professional guidance, honest education, peer connection and lived experience. At The Drugs and Substance Misuse Conference 2026, Finley Worthington shared his personal story of long-term ketamine addiction, recovery, relapse, treatment and the creation of Ketamine Education Service. His account offers important lessons for practitioners, families, educators and anyone affected by substance use.
Finley described himself as a recovering ketamine and cocaine addict, focusing particularly on ketamine because of the severe and lasting impact it had on his health, relationships and identity. His story is not presented as a clinical case study, but as a lived experience that helps make visible what can often remain hidden: the gradual progression of addiction, the shame that delays help-seeking, and the long-term consequences that can continue even after someone stops using.
Why Lived Experience Matters in Support for Drug and Substance Addiction
Lived experience can reach people in ways that traditional messaging sometimes cannot. Finley explained that when he first encountered ketamine at 18, there was very little accessible information available to him. He could not easily find real stories, practical warnings or relatable education about what ketamine addiction could become.
That gap matters. When people do not see honest accounts of harm, they may rely on assumptions, peer myths or selective online information. Finley recalled finding information about ketamine being used in medical or therapeutic settings and using this to justify his own street use as “self-medicating”. His reflection highlights a key challenge for services: information must be clear enough to distinguish between controlled clinical use and unregulated recreational use.
For professionals, lived experience can strengthen prevention and intervention work by making risks feel real, not abstract. For families, it can provide language for difficult conversations. For people currently using, it can offer recognition without judgement.
The Gradual Progression from Experimentation to Dependence
One of the most important lessons from Finley’s story is that addiction did not announce itself clearly. He described moving from cannabis to cocaine and then to ketamine, with ketamine quickly becoming a powerful form of escape. Although his first experience frightened him, he wanted to return to that dissociated state as soon as he came back to reality.
Over time, use escalated. What began in social settings became more frequent, then daily. Within months, ketamine had become part of his routine: something he thought about on waking, used around work, and continued using despite growing consequences.
Recognising Subtle Warning Signs
Finley’s experience shows that warning signs may not always look dramatic at first. They can include:
- Using more often than intended
- Thinking about the substance throughout the day
- Using alone or outside social settings
- Explaining away physical symptoms
- Withdrawing from friends, family or usual activities
- Continuing to use despite pain, fear or concern from others
These signs are not unique to ketamine, but Finley’s story shows how quickly they can become normalised when the substance is meeting an emotional need, such as escape from distress, anxiety, trauma or low self-worth.
The Long-Term Impacts of Ketamine Use
Finley spoke in detail about the physical effects he experienced after sustained ketamine use. He described severe abdominal pain known among users as “ket cramps”, urinary urgency, difficulty urinating, intense pain when passing urine, blood in his urine and later jelly-like material in his urine. He also referred to kidney pain, liver problems, urinary tract issues, increased blood pressure, memory problems, and issues affecting his nose and hearing.
It is important to say that anyone experiencing blood in urine, severe pain, difficulty urinating or other concerning symptoms should seek medical help urgently. Shame, fear or embarrassment can delay support, but these symptoms need professional assessment.
When Harm Becomes Normalised
A striking part of Finley’s account was how abnormal symptoms became normal to him. He described reaching a point where seeing blood in his urine felt routine, and when it was absent, that seemed unusual. This is a powerful reminder that addiction can change someone’s perception of risk.
He also explained how symptoms came and went, which allowed him to tell himself he was “fixed” or that the issue was caused by something else. This pattern is important for families and practitioners to understand. Temporary improvement does not always mean the underlying harm has gone away, especially if substance use continues.
The Emotional and Social Cost of Addiction
Alongside the physical damage, Finley described the collapse of relationships with friends and family. He became isolated, lost weight, stayed in his room, accumulated debt and began to believe that he would die in addiction.
This part of his story reinforces that addiction is rarely only about the substance. It affects confidence, identity, finances, relationships, mental health and hope. For this reason, support needs to be holistic. Medical care may be essential, but people also need emotional support, practical help, community connection and opportunities to rebuild trust.
Did you know that over 60% of people entering prison report problematic drug or alcohol use? Health and wellbeing in prisons is as urgent as ever, with prison population rising year on year. Our Health and Wellbeing in Prisons Conference 2026 will explore how organisations across justice, healthcare and the voluntary sector are working to improve outcomes for people in custody.
Bringing together policymakers, prison leaders and healthcare professionals, this conference will examine the key challenges affecting health provision in prisons, alongside approaches to improving support within custody and strengthening care as individuals transition back into the community.
Recovery, Relapse and Learning to Accept Help
Finley completed rehab more than once and experienced relapse after returning to old environments and patterns. He reflected that, at first, he resisted meetings, counselling, connection and deeper self-understanding. His later recovery became possible when he decided to listen to professionals, engage honestly, explore uncomfortable issues and accept support.
This is an important message: relapse does not mean recovery is impossible. For many people, recovery involves learning over time what support is needed and what situations increase risk. Finley described previous treatment experiences as building “recovery capital”, helping him move closer to sustained change.
What Effective Support Can Include
Based on the lessons from this lived experience, effective support for ketamine and wider substance addiction may include:
- Non-judgemental conversations that reduce shame
- Clear education about physical and psychological risks
- Access to medical assessment for physical symptoms
- Structured treatment, including rehab where appropriate
- Peer support from people with lived experience
- Counselling or therapy to explore underlying distress
- Family support and education
- Ongoing recovery communities after formal treatment ends
From Lived Experience to Ketamine Education Service
After finding limited ketamine-specific support, Finley helped create dedicated spaces for people affected by ketamine use. He later founded Ketamine Education Service, which provides education, awareness-raising, peer support and signposting. In his conference talk, he described work including online meetings, staff training, talks in schools and colleges, prison settings, and support communities for people using ketamine, families and friends.
The wider discussion formed part of The Drugs and Substance Misuse Conference 2026, where speakers explored current challenges and responses across drug and substance misuse. Although the event page is listed as on demand, the conference has already taken place and remains a useful reference for those looking to understand emerging practice and lived experience perspectives.
Key Lessons for Families, Practitioners and Communities
Finley’s story offers several practical lessons. First, prevention must be honest and specific. General warnings may not be enough for young people who believe ketamine has fewer consequences than other substances. Second, shame is a major barrier to help. People may hide symptoms, minimise harm or avoid medical support because they fear judgement.
Third, recovery needs continuity. Leaving treatment and returning to the same environment without support can increase the risk of relapse. Finally, lived experience should be treated as a valuable part of the response to addiction, not as an optional extra. It can help services design support that feels relevant, credible and accessible.
Conclusion: Building Better Support for Drug and Substance Addiction
Support for drug and substance addiction must meet people where they are: physically, emotionally and socially. Finley Worthington’s lived experience of long-term ketamine use shows how addiction can progress quietly, how severe the consequences can become, and how recovery can still be possible with the right help, honesty and community around a person.
For anyone affected by ketamine or other substance use, the most important step is to speak to someone safe and seek professional support. For families and services, the challenge is to respond without judgement, provide accurate information and create routes into sustained recovery. Hope is not a treatment plan on its own, but it is often the first thing people need in order to believe change is possible.