Leon, 25, Shares Journey From Ketamine Addiction to Recovery

Leon thought ketamine was harmless when friends introduced him to the drug at university, but within months he found himself battling physical dependence and crippling paranoia.

The 25-year-old describes those days as living in a shrinking box where walls closed in and reality twisted around him. Sweating, shaking, and constant nosebleeds became his daily reality as the drug took control of his life.

"I'd get withdrawals, sweating, shaking, headaches," Leon recalls. "I very quickly had a physical dependence on it."

The turning point came when Leon recognized he needed help and reached out to Narcotics Anonymous. Through 12-step programs, he found not just sobriety but a new purpose in life.

Today, Leon lives a life he never thought possible. He has a stable home, a driver's license, and meaningful work volunteering with others in recovery.

"I'm not a millionaire, I don't have a car or have a crazy, extravagant life, but I have everything I need," he says. His relationships with friends have strengthened, and he's become someone people can trust and rely on.

Now Leon volunteers with Clarity, Dorset's Lived Experience Recovery Organisation, where he uses his story to help others struggling with addiction. He's speaking out through the 'Forget The Ket' campaign to warn young people about ketamine's dangers.

"I was told by someone that it wasn't addictive in their opinion and so I had nothing to worry about, but that very much wasn't the case," Leon explains. "It's very addictive. It's very widespread."

The Ripple Effect

Leon's willingness to share his story publicly is already making waves in Dorset's recovery community. His work with Clarity brings the personal touch that only someone with lived experience can provide, helping break down stigma and showing others that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Free confidential support for ketamine use is available through Reach (Dorset Council area: 0800 043 4656) and WithYou (BCP Council area: 01202 558855). Both services offer support for individuals and their families.

Leon continues moving forward, one day at a time, proof that recovery transforms lives.