Paige Collins, a 25-year-old from Hampshire, UK, has spoken about the severe health issues she faced after spending $1,300 a month on ketamine.
She first tried the drug at 19 during a night out with friends. What started as an occasional habit slowly became a daily routine.
At her peak, Paige was using between five and 10 grams of ketamine every day. She was spending between $195 and $325 each week just to keep up with it.
Now, after being clean for nine months, she is sharing her story to help others avoid the same struggles.
Paige explained that at first, it was just something she did “once in a blue moon.” But during the Covid-19 lockdowns, her use increased from weekends to weekdays, and eventually, every single day.
“It took me three years to realize I was addicted,” she said. “At the start of 2024, I was doing between five and 10 grams a day.”
Over time, she started noticing concerning symptoms.
She was in constant pain and began seeing jelly-like substances in her urine. At first, she didn’t understand what was happening, but it became clear something was seriously wrong.
“I started going to the toilet more often, and then I noticed I was passing pieces of my bladder lining,” Paige said.
Even after realizing the damage, she struggled to stop. “I would wake up, use it, cry, say I’d never touch it again, and then do it all over again,” she admitted.
Her condition became so severe that she couldn’t leave her house for months.
After a medical scan, doctors discovered that her bladder had shrunk drastically. While a healthy bladder holds 400-600 milliliters of urine, hers could only hold 30 milliliters—just over the size of a small shot glass.
“When they told me that, I felt awful but also relieved. I was scared they’d say I needed a bag,” she shared.
Paige has now started bladder treatments to help ease the pain, but the damage is permanent.
“I just want to raise awareness,” she said. “I know the pain this has caused, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”