Debate contribution: Ketamine: Reclassification

Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on 11 March 2025.

MLA

Mrs Naomi Long

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

11 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Ketamine: Reclassification

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4855777

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. At the outset, I acknowledge the overwhelming impact that drugs can have across our society. When I say "drugs", I am not talking about illegal, illicit or prescription drugs, because all drugs can be dangerous if not taken under medical supervision. We need to be really clear about that, because we sometimes try to say that one drug is more dangerous than another. If people are taking a drug that is not being monitored and was not prescribed for them, it is a dangerous substance that they should not be taking. It is important that we recognise that and encourage people who are suffering from addiction or dependency to seek urgently the help that they need. All too often, lives are blighted by the devastating consequences of taking drugs. Tackling drugs and the harms that they cause is clearly a shared priority for all of us. I also pay tribute to and commend the bravery and relentless efforts of Sandra Larmour for raising awareness of the dangers posed by drugs, following the tragic and untimely death of her daughter, Jeni. It is vital that we listen to the people impacted on directly by substance use and that we learn from the harrowing experiences of people such as Jeni and Sandra. I recall Sandra giving an interview in the aftermath of Jeni's death and how impactful it was. I can still remember everything that she said about Jeni's experience. What young person has not experimented in some way when at university or has not done things that they might not otherwise have done? Few of them, however, would have expected that it could lead to their death. People assume that drug deaths come about as a result of extremes: extreme addiction or long-term misuse. In truth, a single dose of any of those medications can take a life, and young people need to be better educated to know that that is the case. We have to be mindful that this is an issue, as many Members have said, that cuts across other Departments as well as the Department of Justice. My role as Minister of Justice is understandably focused on the criminal justice response. That includes enforcement of the law as it stands, and I take cognisance of the contributions from those who have questioned whether the law as it stands is right. At another time and in another way, we can have that conversation, because it is a conversation that needs to be had. The Department is also there to take actions aimed at reducing drug-related harm and offending in Northern Ireland. That drug-related harm is done not just to those who ingest the substances but to communities, which are often bullied and intimidated by those who peddle drugs, and to people who are tortured as a result of those who seek drugs in desperation. The issue is multilayered and requires us all to work together. Colleagues will be aware that the Department of Health leads on the Northern Ireland Executive substance use strategy, 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery'. The strategy focuses on ensuring that people in Northern Ireland are supported in the prevention and reduction of harm and stigma related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, have access to high-quality treatment and support services and will be empowered to maintain their recovery. Members will also be aware that the classification of drugs is a reserved matter, so any decision will ultimately rest with the UK Government. Leading the Executive's representations on the classification or reclassification of drugs, particularly on the health implications of any drug, would fall primarily to the Department of Health. I am sure that I speak for most Members, however, when I welcome the announcement from the Home Office on 8 January this year that it is seeking expert advice on reclassifying ketamine as a class A substance. The Minister of Health and I are entirely supportive of the planned review. While we respect the fact that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will be required to follow due process before a decision can be made, it is important that we also have a voice in the way forward.

Recently, the Health Minister and I attended a quadrilateral meeting with Ministers from all other regions of the UK on drug-related issues. During that meeting, there was a discussion on the reclassification of ketamine, and we are likely to discuss that again at future UK ministerial meetings. It is clear that addressing the harms associated with ketamine is a priority across the UK. Subsequently, the Minister of Health and I wrote jointly to the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention in the Home Office to convey our concerns about the harms that ketamine can cause, especially the associated serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys, and the serious mental health problems that can be protracted after people take the drug. That is whether they take it through one-off experimentation or are addicted to it via long-term use. We confirmed that those concerns are echoed by colleagues across the Assembly. In the letter, we asked that consideration be given to putting arrangements in place to allow affected families and relevant stakeholders from Northern Ireland to inform the independent review. Whilst my remit as Minister of Justice is limited on the issue, I will, of course, do all that I can to address the harms caused by drugs and to support other Ministers who lead more directly on it. For example, I know that ketamine is one of the most detected drugs in spiking, due to its dissociative impact and the fact that it can cause paralysis and amnesia. Members may be aware that the UK Government are bringing forward measures in the new Crime and Policing Bill that will update the legislation on spiking. My Department has engaged with stakeholders on the issue. Subject to the Executive and Assembly's approval, it is my intention to extend that new offence to Northern Ireland via the legislative consent process. Let me assure you that there is considerable local cross-governmental work on these issues. The organised crime task force drug subgroup provides a forum for engagement between the PSNI and other stakeholders in response to the challenges posed by the misuse of drugs and related threats and to identify solutions to effectively deal with enforcement related to the supply of drugs. Indeed, when we met an Garda Síochána and the Irish Justice Minister yesterday, the cross-border smuggling and supply of drugs was part of the agenda, which was really important. The joint agency task force is also actively engaged in that area. The harms caused by substance use extend widely to families and communities that are often left facing bereavement, despair and fear. This debate is particularly relevant following the publication of the annual Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) report on drug-related and drug-misuse deaths in Northern Ireland in 2023, which further highlights the devastating impact that drugs have on our communities. It also shows the growing issue of polydrug use, including mixing illegal and prescription drugs and alcohol. It is worth remembering that ketamine, a derivative of PCP, replaced PCP as an anaesthetic because it was judged to be safer than its antecedent. It is a reminder that it is the misuse of that drug that is the problem. It is interesting that the Member for Foyle raised the issue of pregabalin, which was the specific drug mentioned in 67 of the 169 deaths registered in 2023. The rise of pregabalin, which is a completely legitimate pain-killing drug but which is being used without supervision, is taking people's lives, and it is often part of polydrug use, which is an increasing problem. We must therefore be mindful that there are no easy solutions and that the issues around drugs cut across the whole Executive — Health, Communities, Education and Justice. We will succeed in improving outcomes only if we see substance use in that broader context and work collectively to target supplies, educate our young people, raise awareness and prevent the young and the vulnerable from turning to or experimenting with drugs. While a reclassification of ketamine would bring increased penalties and possibly provide an increased deterrent to its use and supply, it is vital that we address broader substance misuse in a holistic way and, primarily, as a medical issue that requires therapeutic interventions, rather than focusing only on criminal justice outcomes. Substance use has a tragic impact across Northern Ireland, according to those most recent figures. As I say, 169 people lost their life in 2023 as a result of drugs misuse, but the impact and the ripples in our community go much wider. We can only, therefore, deal with that if we deal with it together. It is important that we do all that we can to ensure that young people who may experiment with drugs — in some cases, under peer pressure — understand that there is an extreme risk associated with taking any drug that is not prescribed. It takes only one episode to cause life-changing or life-ending harm. There is no safe level of drug consumption. If only one message reaches the public as a result of the debate, I hope that it is this: drugs can and do cause harm to individuals, families and communities. To those young people who may or may not hear the debate and to those who may or may not be suffering with their own addiction demons, I say this: do not take that risk with your health and well-being — reach out and seek support. A range of substance use-related services are available across Northern Ireland and are listed on the PHA drug and alcohol info website. Please use them. Please get the help that you need, and please keep yourself, your family and your community safe.

1,658 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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