00:02ketamine use is drawing growing concern across parts of england as health and justice leaders
00:08warn of rising harm linked to the drug the county derham and darlington police and crime commissioner
00:13is urging tougher classification arguing current controls do not reflect reality locally here
00:19joy allen says ketamine is contributing to a surge in addiction and severe health harms
00:24including abdominal pain in long-term users as services report increasing referrals across the
00:30country and increasing pressure on services the advisory council on the misuse of drugs has
00:36recommended ketamine remain a class b substance saying reclassification alone is unlikely to reduce
00:43use while also noting harms and deaths are linked to poly drug consumption in many cases nationwide
00:49this comes according to experts the commissioner has criticized that position as out of step with
00:55reality arguing that reclassification of class a would strengthen enforcement powers and allow
01:01courts to impose the most severe penalties on suppliers and organized criminal networks involved
01:07in distribution networks targeted ketamine remains widely used in nhs medical settings as an anesthetic
01:14and sedative making policy decisions complex officials continue to weigh up public health concerns
01:21enforcement capability and evidence on harm reduction as debate over classification continues at national level
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