I beg to move

That this Assembly commends the campaign of Sandra Larmour, who has fought with great dignity to increase awareness and seek reclassification of ketamine following the tragic death of her daughter, Jeni; is alarmed that the prevalence of ketamine has reached record levels in recent years; stresses that ketamine is an extremely dangerous substance and can lead to serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys; further stresses that it is one of the most detected substances in incidents of spiking; recognises that behind every drug-related death is a bereaved family; welcomes the UK Government’s decision to commission advice on whether ketamine should become a class A drug; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work with the Home Office to put in place arrangements to allow affected families and relevant stakeholders from Northern Ireland to inform that independent review and future decisions on the regulation and classification of ketamine.

The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to one hour and 30 minutes for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have 10 minutes in which to propose and 10 minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. All other Members who speak in the debate will have five minutes. Joanne, please open the debate on the motion.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. This is an important subject, and, from the outset, I commend the tireless campaign of Sandra Larmour, whose advocacy, born from a profound and tragic loss, has illuminated the urgent need for increased awareness and a reclassification of ketamine. Jeni Larmour from Newtownhamilton was 18 and on her first day at Newcastle University when, in October 2020, she lost her life to ketamine and alcohol. I have spoken to Sandra, and she has told me that Jeni was a really bright, strong, switched-on, ambitious girl with her whole life ahead of her.

Parents think that it will never happen to their child, that their child is sensible — but so was Jeni. Sandra reiterated that what happened to Jeni was so far removed from who she was and how she was raised. She was not a party kid; her nose was always in a book. She had a close circle of friends, and they socialised in one another's homes. All that changed within hours of her arrival at university, when she met her new flatmates and Kavir Kalliecharan, who was later charged with possessing drugs but not supplying them. Neither he nor Jeni's flatmates sought help; they just left her lying there that night. He was able to go on with his life: Jeni's was over.

Sandra's campaign began following Jeni's heartbreaking death. Her bravery in the face of unimaginable grief has been an inspiration. She has fought with unwavering dignity and determination, seeking not only justice for her daughter but to protect other families from the same tragedy. No family should experience that heartache and bury their child. Sandra has called for a reassessment of the risks posed by ketamine, a substance that has, in recent years, reached record levels of prevalence. From such a tragedy, however, has come something worthwhile. Education Minister Paul Givan met Sandra, and, as of tomorrow, a production that has been touring schools in Northern Ireland to educate our young people on the severe dangers of drugs will have reached over 3,500 young people across 24 schools.

What exactly is ketamine? It was developed as an anaesthetic for medical and veterinary use but has since found a new identity and is sought after by recreational drug users because of its dissociative effects. At about £20 per gram, ketamine is cheaper than other illegal drugs such as cocaine and MDMA, and that contributes to its widespread use. In recent years, the British Isles have witnessed a significant rise in ketamine use, especially among young people. Indeed, the Home Office has said that the illegal use of ketamine has reached record levels, citing the estimate that 269,000 people aged between 16 and 59 reported using ketamine in the year ending March 2024.

The effects of ketamine are apparently short-lived, so people quickly develop a tolerance, which results in them taking increased doses with greater frequency to get the same high. The problem is — I will explore this in more detail later — that it has a false reputation as a safe drug with limited potential for overdose or dependence and few side effects. That is just not true. Readily available and comparatively inexpensive, it has recently been reported as the fourth most popular recreational and sixth most commonly used drug in the UK.

Far from the perceptions of ketamine as a safe drug, we are advised that chronic use can lead to cognitive impairments, memory issues and psychological disturbances. The long-term impacts on the human body, however, are not yet fully known. What we know is that the health impacts of its abuse on those who survive can be devastating and have far-reaching effects. Ketamine use has led to serious and irreversible consequences for some. The facts are these: it is an extremely dangerous drug that can lead to severe health problems, including irreparable damage to the bladder, liver and kidneys.

I want to give some insight into the health impacts from those who have found themselves profoundly impacted by the aftermath of ketamine. I apologise that some of the descriptions are graphic and disturbing. They are direct quotes from sufferers, all in England. Matt said:

"I started taking ketamine in clubs and parties in Bristol but things started to spiral out of control after nearly going to jail. I was just using it to cope with life really, just using more and more until my body couldn't hack it and I started getting really ill. It started creeping into every aspect of my life and becoming the main part of my life. I started selling drugs to support that. Everyone around me started getting stomach cramps and getting really ill and peeing blood. ... I hated being me. I think I was trying to kill myself without actually giving up. ... I've woken up on the bathroom floor with blood everywhere fitting out on the floor, where I have been in so much pain. I eventually got into heroin because it was the only thing that got anywhere near to easing the pain that ketamine caused. ... I had numerous suicide attempts because I couldn't cope with how much pain I was in. I was actually peeing out chunks of my bladder. The bladder wall was falling apart. There was so much scar tissue. I was permanently curled up in a ball unable to stop sweating just in absolute agony. Eventually I might have to have my bladder removed and half my bowel removed to make a new bladder. I'm scared about the side effects of the operation, not being able to have kids, the prospect of it not working. It's an evil drug which is just corrosive on your body; it just strips you down in a matter of years. It was uncontrollable."

Jamie said:

"I was going to the toilet numerous times every hour. At one point I couldn't actually pee because my blood was clotted. It was the worst pain I have ever had. I never want to feel that again. I thought I was going to lose my bladder."

George said:

"I was going to the toilet every five or 10 minutes. I had to stop working, I have to plan journeys, my social life's out of the window. I used to go to festivals and it was a cheap drug to get. I started using it socially but then I started using it daily. Many a night it had me in a foetal position crying because I couldn't go to the toilet. It's destroyed what I call life as I know it. A year ago I couldn't hold my toilet. I needed a cup in the van to go to the toilet when I was driving. I can't get the full use of my bladder back unless I have surgery."

This is the last one, from a guy called Jack Curran:

"I couldn't go to work – couldn't do anything. I'd be living in my room with a hot-water bottle, getting in the bath every half-hour or every hour through the night, in absolute, extreme agony."

Additional text indicates that his bladder was riddled with ulcers and could stretch to only 30 millilitres. Normal capacity is between 300 millilitres and 600 millilitres. At 25, Jack was periodically wearing nappies.

Members can see just how horrific the consequences can be, but, as with all bad things, the problem is that nobody ever thinks that it will happen to them or to their child.

I will now speak about spiking, which is the term used when individuals are unknowingly and maliciously drugged. It is a particularly disturbing crime that often leads to serious physical and emotional harm, because victims are then vulnerable to horrendous secondary offences, often sexual, and left with little clear memory of what exactly happened. Young women are disproportionately affected by spiking. Data from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) shows that 74% of those reporting spiking are female, with an average age of 26, but an increasing number of males have been spiked.

Ketamine is increasingly being used for spiking and is particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol, because, together, the two have a very powerful effect that, in extreme cases, can lead to coma or death. Ketamine is one of the most detected substances in instances of spiking.

The Government are seeking advice on whether to reclassify the drug in line with narcotics such as cocaine, heroin and MDMA, so they wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on 14 January to commission updated advice on ketamine, including whether it should be reclassified to become a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. By the way, in 2014, ketamine was upgraded from class C, and the maximum penalty for producing and supplying ketamine is currently 14 years in prison. If it is raised to class A, the offence could result in a life sentence for supply and production.

We welcome the Government's decision to commission advice on whether ketamine should be reclassified as class A. That is absolutely a step in the right direction, but we must ensure that the voices of families like Sandra's are heard in the decision-making process. It is vital that the Government listen to those who have experienced the devastating impact of ketamine at first hand and take their experiences into account.

That is where the Minister of Justice comes in. We know that it is a reserved matter, but we strongly believe that the Justice Minister has a role to play in working with the Home Office to allow families affected by ketamine and relevant stakeholders from Northern Ireland to have their voices heard and be included in the review. The voices of those who have lived through the nightmare of ketamine-related deaths should be amplified, and their experiences and insights could be invaluable in shaping future regulation. The reclassification of ketamine is not just a policy issue but a matter of protecting our communities by taking swift and decisive action. We can prevent further tragedies, support affected families and send a strong message, before it gets a grip on Northern Ireland, that the misuse of ketamine will no longer be tolerated. We ask the Minister to work with the Government to put in place arrangements for those from Northern Ireland to inform the review and any future decisions.

If the testimonies that I read aloud do not make a convincing case, consider the views of Senior Coroner Mutch from south Manchester at the inquest of a young man called James Boland. The record shows that the inquest heard evidence that Mr Boland had previously used cocaine but had switched to ketamine on the basis that, because it was a class B drug, he perceived it to be less harmful.

Sandra Larmour has shown us what it means to fight for change in the face of great personal loss. Let us honour her daughter's memory and the memory of all those who have been lost to ketamine and other drugs and dangerous substances by standing with her campaign and pushing for a safer, healthier future. On that basis, I encourage Members to support the motion.

I thank the Member opposite for opening the debate and for tabling the motion.

The pressing issue of ketamine misuse is a concern that resonates deeply in all our communities. Sadly, drug use is all too common, probably in everyone's constituency, if we are to speak openly about it. It continues to spread the disease of addiction and, of course, the risk of premature death. Sadly, we have seen that in the number of people who are losing their life to, in most cases, an accidental overdose. They do not realise how potent the mixture of drugs that they are taking is, and, as the Member said, they are even mixed with alcohol, which just makes the substances even more dangerous. While the motion emphasises reclassification, it is so important that our discourse extend beyond the legal frameworks to take into account the health aspect and the education aspect, which was mentioned, and, generally, the wrap-around support that we need to provide to people who might be struggling when it comes to taking substances in the first place.

I also commend Sandra and her family, whom I have not met. I have not reached out to them or spoken with them personally, but I want to commend their bravery and their unwavering dedication following the absolutely tragic loss of their daughter, Jeni. The campaign run by Jeni's mother, Sandra, really underlines the impact of everything that she is going through, and she is obviously trying to use her experience to campaign for better and to save lives. It just shows the impact that these issues can have on families. I work locally with a mother from West Belfast, Lorraine Brennan, who lost her son: Jack took a lethal drug and, sadly, lost his life. That was in 2021, and Lorraine has been campaigning day and night since then to try to save lives. However, it is too late for her family and too late for Sandra's. I am conscious that the Justice Minister is here, but this issue is obviously cross-cutting, and my speech may be more directed at some of the things that Mike Nesbitt can do as Health Minister.

Of course, my community in West Belfast has not been immune from any of the challenges that ketamine use presents. Reports from local organisations have highlighted a concerning rise in the use of ketamine among our young people, and it is being made worse by the drug's affordability and accessibility. The West Belfast Community Drugs Panel was pulled together a number of years ago, and, at the time, it noted that access to drugs, including ketamine, was alarmingly easy, with substances readily available on the streets, in local parks and even through online platforms. Local families have raised with me the issue of spiking, which was mentioned. I know that it is easier said than done, but we need to get a grip of this. I have heard how kids can now easily go on apps, including TikTok, and click on links. Clearly, there are premises and drug houses that constantly churn out these dangerous substances. That is probably a wider discussion, and that will be a much more difficult and longer-term issue to deal with than the review that we are talking about today.

This is not specific to West Belfast, I am sure, but, in everyone's constituencies, really brilliant work is being done by local groups to support families who are living with and battling with family members with addiction. There are a lot of good examples of that in my constituency, and it is really appreciated. Still, however, we know that, despite all the efforts of our Health and Social Care (HSC) workers and our community and voluntary sector, not enough is being done.

Will the Member give way?

Yes.

Does the Member agree that we need to widen access to vital health-led services here, including mental health provision and drug treatment services, particularly in my constituency in the north-west?

Additionally, how will we tackle poverty and inequality? That core area of work could have a meaningful and lasting impact, particularly in supporting people in turning their lives around.

I thank the Member for her intervention.

The Member has an extra minute.

Thanks very much.

I totally agree. It is a whole-system approach. It is not just all about Justice. It is about the anti-poverty strategy, the substance use strategy, the mental health strategy, housing and unemployment — it is all of that.

Finally, I go back to what would be a positive step from a health perspective. Danny chairs the all-party group (APG) on addiction and dual diagnosis, and, at the minute, there is a proposal with the Health Department about trying to introduce a rapid drug-testing model in the North.

Such a model is used in Dublin and Cork and over in Britain. Basically, when there are lethal drugs on the streets, they are tested right away, alerts are sent out within 24 hours and people are notified that the street drugs that they may be about to take could take their life. There might be a wee bit of work to be done on that with the Justice Minister. The PSNI is on board. I think that the proposal is that it would be funded through Health for the first year as a pilot, which would not cost much money. That would be done via Queen's University and the pharmacy. The PSNI will, hopefully, also have a role to play. As a result of today's debate, we will maybe get that over the line, as well as the reclassification review.

I thank the DUP for tabling the motion. Tragically, 18-year-old Jeni Larmour died on 3 October 2020 after consuming alcohol and ketamine on her first night at university. She was a former deputy head girl at the Royal School Armagh and clearly had her whole life in front of her. I cannot imagine the pain of such a loss. Since then, her mum, Sandra, has been campaigning for more awareness of ketamine. I welcome her campaign. It is important to raise awareness of ketamine and the dangers that are associated with its use. Ketamine is commonly used in healthcare and veterinary medicine, but it is also misused. Following a review by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2013, ketamine was moved from class C to class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act due to its potential harm when it is misused. We have heard about record levels of its use in recent years.

Ketamine was initially a class C drug. It was then moved to class B, and there are now calls for its reclassification to class A, along with cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. It is currently seen as being less dangerous in class B, even though it carries potentially serious health problems, mainly involving irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys. That can cause chronic pain and issues with kidney function and urination. There is also the risk of addiction and even death. Concernedly, it is also used in spiking incidents. The UK Government have invited the ACMD to provide an updated harms assessment of ketamine and to advise on reducing harms in response to emerging evidence and, in particular, on whether the drug should be moved to class A. One incident of experimentation with ketamine can be fatal, so there is a need to educate young people about the risks.

People have used mind-altering substances almost since the beginning of time. Some were or have become socially acceptable, while others have been made illegal. Alcohol and tobacco have a long tradition of social acceptability in the majority of countries across the world. There is a clear dichotomy in that some substances that cause the most harm in our society, such as alcohol and tobacco, are legal and are even taxed by the Government to raise revenue, while other substances that are less harmful are illegal, and their possession and use can lead to criminal sanctions. During the Prohibition era in the USA from 1920 to 1933, the production, importation and sale of alcoholic drinks was marked by the emergence of black market networks and violent criminal organisations that made huge profits from distributing illegal alcohol. The policy was far from universally popular, and it was eventually repealed in 1933. It is widely seen as a failure, and there are obvious comparisons with today's failing war on drugs policies.

In the UK, drugs are legislated for under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. That is a reserved matter into which the Assembly has no input. Patterns of drug use have changed significantly over the past 50 years. The 1971 Act puts more emphasis on the punishment of people who use drugs, rather than on their rehabilitation. Drugs are widely available in our cities, towns and even villages across Northern Ireland, and online, as Órlaithí said. There are even apps via which drugs can be delivered to your house.

Reclassification would have a legal effect, but the differences are fairly minor. The class A penalties are seven years in prison for possession and life imprisonment for supply and production. The class B penalties are five years in prison for possession and 14 years for supply and production. A recent updated harms assessment by the ACMD into synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone, which is another class B drug, highlighted the fact that there are potential disadvantages of making specific substances class A, and it did not recommend the reclassification of those substances. In particular, it stated:

"Reclassification may increase stigma for people using these drugs, discouraging them from seeking social or medical support. Their further criminalisation may present additional barriers to accessing services such as housing."

That is the opposite of harm reduction. It also stated:

"If reclassification resulted in increased supply costs, the risk of acquisitive crime to fund drug purchases could increase", and that increased costs:

"could encourage some ... users and their suppliers to switch to potentially more hazardous Class A compounds, such as cocaine."

Furthermore, it stated:

"It is also important to avoid the unintended reclassification of compounds with potential legitimate use".

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that the therapeutic use of ketamine may be a safe and effective treatment for various mental health disorders, although at very specific doses.

We need practical methods to support people who are in vulnerable positions. We should be moving towards a harm-reduction model to support people who use drugs to do so safely and promote rehabilitation and recovery. Since ketamine is often used as a spiking drug, one such method could be to ensure the availability of drug-testing services, as Órlaithí mentioned, in places such as nightclubs, so that people can keep themselves safe.

We welcome the decision to commission advice, and we encourage affected families and relevant stakeholders to help inform the review. The review will help to inform the public about the risks of ketamine at a time when its use is increasing, but a different approach is needed. We need more practical solutions to reduce harm from, and address the underlying factors of, drug use. There is a need to educate young people on the potential harms of ketamine misuse, particularly the risk of addiction, irreversible bladder and kidney harm and even death, but it is for the UK Government to deal with drugs policy, and it is clear that the 1971 Act is outdated and no long fit for purpose.

Illegal drugs create many victims. Those who find themselves addicted to illegal drugs are victims. Addiction is insidious, and it destroys their lives. Their families face dealing with that drug addiction as they watch their loved ones slowly dissolve in front of them. They are also victims. Without a doubt, we must improve our addiction support services, and the Health Department plays a key role in that. There are those who lose their life through drug addiction, and the stigma of that is carried by their families long after their death. Of course, there are also those who experiment with taking drugs just to fit in with the crowd, thinking that it is safe to do so, with tragic consequences.

I welcome the DUP's motion and will, of course, support it. I acknowledge Sandra Larmour's dignity and her campaign to reclassify ketamine after the tragic loss of her daughter, Jeni. Many will argue that we must relook at how we deal with illegal drugs in our society and throughout the United Kingdom. I have some sympathy for that view and would gladly enter any discussion about it. Right now, we deal with illegal drugs through a criminal justice framework in combination with Health and Education. I am glad that the Justice Minister is here, but the responsibility does not sit just on her shoulders. We must support her and her Department.

It is clear that the Government now see a major issue with ketamine. In January this year, they sought legal advice on reclassifying ketamine as a class A substance, after illegal use reached record levels. Pink cocaine is a class A drug. It targets the young, and ketamine is often found in it. Ketamine is licensed in the UK as an anaesthetic. It can be used for short-term pain relief, but it is not available on prescription. That legitimacy, combined with ketamine's status as a class B drug, gives everyone the impression that taking it or continuing to use it is safer, but it is not. Ketamine can suppress the nervous system, particularly when it is added to alcohol. That can be dangerous and even deadly.

Sadly, the majority of ketamine users are aged between 16 and 24. Drug dealers know that and deliberately target that age group. Earlier this year, a £6·4 million shipment of illegal drugs, including ketamine, was seized by the PSNI. It is clear that, if action is not taken, organised crime groups such as the Firm, which is in my constituency, will exploit the lower classification of ketamine. The misunderstanding is that it is a safer drug, but it will create more victims.

As I said at the start of my contribution, we need to have the difficult conversation about our strategy for dealing with illegal drugs and about how we deal with addiction. However, taking into account how dealers use ketamine to exploit young people and mix it into drugs such as pink cocaine, I am absolutely in favour of ketamine being reclassified as a class A drug.

My respect and condolences are with Sandra Larmour today, as the tragic loss of her beautiful daughter, Jeni, reminds us all how fragile life is.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Ketamine, originally developed as an anaesthetic for medical use, has become increasingly common in recreational drug use. It has a reputation for inducing dissociation, hallucinations and a distorted sense of reality, but the consequences of ketamine misuse are far more severe and far-reaching than many realise. Chronic use of ketamine can result in long-term damage to the bladder, liver and brain, and lead to such conditions as memory loss, cognitive impairments and the debilitating ketamine bladder syndrome, which was so shockingly and gruesomely described by Ms Bunting, and which often requires invasive surgeries.

What makes the issue even more tragic is the loss of young lives. I think today of the family of young Jeni Larmour, in particular, from over the road from me in Newtown. Jeni was a bright and promising young woman, and she tragically passed away as a result of ketamine on her first night away at university in Newcastle. Her death is a stark reminder of the dangers that the drug poses, particularly to our youth. Jeni's family has been so courageous in speaking out about its loss, raising awareness of the devastating consequences of ketamine misuse and calling for action to protect others. Despite its grief, Jeni's family has become a powerful voice in the fight to raise awareness of the dangers of ketamine. The strength and resolve of the family are commendable, and we must honour Jeni's memory by ensuring that no other family has to go through such an unimaginable loss.

At present, ketamine is classified as a class B drug in the UK. However, its dangerous and unpredictable effects make it clear that that classification is inadequate. A class B drug classification means that the penalties for possession and trafficking are far too lenient, especially when we consider the severe harm that the drug causes. The rising number of ketamine-related hospital admissions, particularly among young people, highlights how urgent the issue has become. Jeni Larmour's tragic death must be a turning point. It should be the catalyst for change in how we classify and address the misuse of ketamine. Reclassifying ketamine to class A would ensure that law enforcement agencies have the necessary tools to combat its distribution effectively. It would provide the foundation for more comprehensive public education programmes to raise awareness of the risks of ketamine, particularly among young people. Prevention is vital. By raising awareness, we can reduce the chances of more lives being ruined and more families being torn apart.

Jeni Larmour's family has shown incredible courage in its grief, and its call for change should be met with a united response from all of us. It is time to act, before more lives are lost and more families suffer. The time for change is now. We have an opportunity to make a real difference, save lives and prevent other families from experiencing the heartache that Jeni's family continues to endure. Let us stand together in support of the reclassification — for Jeni, for her family and for all those whose lives are at risk.

Today's motion is important, and I thank the Members for tabling it. I, too, recognise the work of Sandra Larmour in the aftermath of losing her daughter, Jeni, in highlighting the important issue and the impact that drugs have on the user, their family and the wider community. I also take this opportunity to thank all those who are working in this area across our communities. I see the impacts daily in my community and constituency.

These debates can be emotive, as they often involve people who have been impacted on through losing a loved one, people who are living with addiction and people who know of the wider impacts on families and communities. Often, the public discourse can be around the criminal justice and enforcement approach, but we also know, from years of work at the grassroots and internationally, that that, in isolation, does not resolve the issues and the impacts. Health, education and prevention are key in tackling the issues that have an impact across society. The importance of focusing on addressing inequality also needs to be looked at. It is important that, through a holistic, health-based approach, we do not stigmatise users and those who are often impacted on by addiction. It is also vital that we do not stigmatise the ability to have an open conversation, as, often, the stigma can perpetuate the silence and disempower those who have been impacted on and the community from tackling the issues in a meaningful way.

The Amplify project has been launched in my community in the Market area of south Belfast. The project is a community toolkit that aims to break the silence and tackle health inequalities such as trauma and addiction through the power of building creative communities.

That allows the community to bring the issues to the fore and, importantly, to talk about them in an open forum. They have created a toolkit, a podcast and a community tapestry photographic exhibition, and they are in the middle of doing a play that will be shown in the Waterfront Hall later this year. All that work is being supported through the Queen's University's scheme, Queen's Communities and Place.

We are also seeing new approaches in our justice system, with the piloting of the substance misuse court trialled to help tackle the cycle of crime, looking at the root causes and providing support, such as treatment plans, alongside supervision and monitoring, to help turn people's lives around. Tackling substance use and the impact of drugs is an important issue. Of course, reviews are important, but they also must be driven by data and best practice. We must also look at how substances are used in our healthcare system, and, if changes are to be made, we need to know and understand the knock-on effects and unintended consequences. Co-designing interventions with communities is therefore vital, as we know that the opposite of addiction is connection — connection to tackling the underlying causes and building those community connections where people feel isolated. Together, let us break the silence, let us amplify our voices and let us build healthy and connected communities for all.

I will start today, as many others have, by paying tribute to Sandra Larmour and her family's campaign to raise awareness on the issue of ketamine, as the motion rightly references. Jeni Larmour, her daughter, sadly passed away after consuming ketamine and alcohol, and Sandra has channelled her grief into tirelessly lobbying and raising awareness. She has publicly said that she does not want Jeni's death to become just another statistic reported on, and I could not agree more. I welcome the opportunity that has been given by the UK Government and the Home Office for a review of the reclassification of ketamine as a class A substance. I agree with the motion. We must facilitate affected families and loved ones being involved in the review. In fact, I will go further and say that previous users or victims of harm relating to ketamine must also be consulted to ensure a truly wrap-around interventionist and preventionist approach to drug use policy frameworks.

As mentioned by others around the Chamber today, legal frameworks relating to the misuse of drugs are a reserved matter, particularly looking at the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. Responsibility for the legislation is for Westminster and the Home Office. However, with that being said, it would be remiss of me not to recognise, as others have done, that all Executive Ministers, including the Justice and Health Ministers, have a responsibility to take any action they can to minimise and end the harm created by drugs. The opportunity for a review of the classification of ketamine is a welcome one. It is a highly dangerous substance, as my colleague Joanne Bunting pointed out earlier, and it is becoming increasingly popular among our younger communities. It has also often been found in the systems of victims of spiking, which is a legal area where our Justice Minister, Naomi Long, is key to strengthening.

There have been record levels of use of ketamine in recent years. Home Office statistics estimate that 269,000 people aged between 16 and 59 used ketamine from March 2023 to March 2024. Something that, I thought, would be useful to pull out is that data on users and dealers of ketamine specifically in Northern Ireland is hard to track, and a contributing factor to that is the general class B category it goes under in our reporting systems, instead of having its own specific offence code. In the outworkings of the review, it would be really interesting to explore how, operationally, in Northern Ireland, if it was segmented into a class A substance, we could aggregate police data into a wider, more accurate picture. That would be absolutely vital to producing tangible results, tracking and preventing further use and harm.

If class A status is achieved through the review, it will mean that possession of ketamine will result in seven years of prison time instead of five, but the real change will be lifelong imprisonment for supply and production instead of 14 years. Affected families and stakeholders must be consulted on those changes to affirm public confidence to our UK-wide approach. However, within all that, the Alliance Party position is that the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act is outdated and needs reviewed in the long term.

As my party colleague Danny Donnelly MLA and others in the Chamber have outlined, we need to look at other ways of supporting vulnerable people who find themselves addicted to substances. The 2021 Northern Ireland Executive substance use strategy, 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery: A Strategic Framework to Tackle the Harm from Substance Use', which was led by the Department of Health, highlighted the need for harm reduction, joined-up working, early intervention and support for recovery.

I know that the Justice Minister is committed to playing her part in reducing offending, working with the PSNI to respond to community safety concerns and empowering recovery through supporting alternative approaches such as the substance misuse courts. We need to ensure that our approach to drug misuse is as person-focused as possible. The review of reclassification opens up an opportunity to discuss those matters further. Stakeholder involvement, including families who have lost loved ones and users who are themselves in recovery, must play a key role in that.

I finish by thanking Sandra Larmour again for putting the matter on MLAs' agendas and for her tireless work to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain of losing their loved one.

Ketamine can no longer be dismissed as just a party drug: it is a serious public health risk. We have already heard about its severe health impacts and its role in spiking incidents. Access to the drug, along with others such as pregabalin, is often just a click or a direct message (DM) away. Both are frequently and wrongly seen as low-risk substances, possibly or probably due to their current classification. We would like to see the reclassification not only of ketamine but of pregabalin and gabapentin.

Let me be clear: there is no such thing as a low-risk drug. Taking those tablets is playing Russian roulette. Those substances are often combined with other drugs, such as cocaine and alcohol, creating a lethal cocktail. That misuse contributes directly to the increasing number of drug-related deaths in the North, which, in 2022, stood at 154. I have questioned that statistic and the accuracy of current reporting mechanisms, as I believe the real number to be even higher. Certainly now, in 2025, in my constituency, it feels as though not a week goes by without us mourning the loss of at least one more young life.

That worrying trend is often highlighted more deftly and harrowingly on social media by devastated family members and friends. Recent data shows that Northern Ireland's rate of drug-related deaths is alarmingly high — more than five times the EU average. What are the Executive doing about it? Not much, going by the Programme for Government. Addiction was not mentioned once, and drug-related deaths do not even make it on to the list of priorities. How can Executive parties stand here today with the audacity to tell grieving families that addressing the drugs crisis is a priority for them?

This epidemic has left hundreds of parents mourning the unnatural loss of a child; young people grieving the loss of their peers; and children left to navigate the life-altering reality of life without a parent. Sadly, I am sure that we have all witnessed too many times how loved ones of the deceased begin to follow the same perilous path, sinking more deeply into their own grief, darkness and addiction. In many cases, it is a chain reaction that sets off one tragedy after another. The slow-motion collapse of a life often played out online; the excessive party lifestyle; the vulnerable people crying out for help but turning to support systems that simply are not there or take months or even years to access — all of those things are unacceptable.

I join others in commending parents such as Sandra Larmour or, more recently, Pauline Duddy from my constituency for their determination and unwavering commitment to campaigning for change and for channelling their grief into action, trying to spare other families the same suffering.

Reclassification is one part of the jigsaw. We need to see tougher penalties for supply not just being available but being used. For example, has ketamine's reclassification from class C to class B seen a reduction in its use? No. Instead, there appears to be a revolving door in our courthouses that leaves communities feeling powerless.

Danny Donnelly mentioned the war on drugs. That is a war that, sadly, we cannot win until we fight and win a war against the reasons that lead to drug dependency: adverse childhood experiences, trauma and poverty. We need to invest in better education and mental health and addiction services. If we tackle the root causes of substance misuse, we can stop the tragic and entirely preventable deaths.

I call the Minister of Justice to respond to the motion. Minister, you have up to 15 minutes.

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.

Thank you, Minister. I call Stephen Dunne to make the winding-up speech on the motion. Stephen, you have up to 10 minutes.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will conclude what has been a very useful and timely debate on such an important issue. I thank everyone for their contribution and the Minister for her attendance. I join others in commending the Larmour family for their tireless and courageous efforts on their important campaign. Sandra has fought with great dignity indeed to raise awareness of the dangers of ketamine and to seek its reclassification following the tragic and untimely passing of her daughter, Jeni. Her campaign is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic, policy debate and legislative decision are real people, families and heartache in every corner of our country.

Sadly, the Larmour family is just one of many families right across Northern Ireland who have had their life shattered by the devastating effects of ketamine and so many other drugs, some of which have been mentioned here. Too many families right across our country continue to face that devastation, day and daily, right throughout the year. Figures that I acquired recently from the Department of Finance show, interestingly, that ketamine was mentioned on the death certificate of 12 people between January 2020 and June 2024, with an alarming jump from one ketamine-related death in 2022 to five in 2023 and three within the first six months of 2024. It is worth noting that last week's figures issued by NISRA show a worrying increase of nearly 50% in drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland over the past decade. That should shock us all. It is certainly a reminder of the gravity of the situation and of the fact that there is still so much more work to be done.

Many young people throughout the British Isles are suffering from severe bowel health issues, which were mentioned, and various medical issues, but they would be perfectly healthy if they were not regular ketamine users and had never taken that first dose of the drug. They may have thought that it was a casual thing to do, or they may have done it through peer pressure or one of the many other ways in which people can, sadly, become addicts and have their life changed and ruined forever. I have read some shocking personal stories from users of the drug. My colleague Ms Bunting outlined some of those personal stories. They are a timely reminder to us all, bringing home the devastation and destruction that drugs can cause. I reference young people in particular, as the latest government figures show that drug use among 16- to 24-year-olds has tripled since 2016. That is, again, a very startling statistic indeed. As Members across the Chamber said, the relatively low cost of ketamine is a major concern, combined with the false perception that it may be less harmful than similar drugs. That has no doubt contributed to the startling rise in its use in our communities. I think that Members mentioned that, such is the widespread use of drugs, it happens not just in city centres but in urban and rural areas and that it is no respecter of class or colour.

We welcome the review that the UK Government are undertaking and believe that local people deserve to have their say and to share their experiences in that process. I recognise that, in response to questions for written answer on the topic, the Minister has stated and repeated today that there is a role for the Department of Health and that it is a cross-cutting issue for a number of Departments. There is an Executive-wide place and space for making change. There is no doubt that reclassification would be a positive step forward. It is something that we can all get behind. I welcome the fact that, as the Justice Minister stated, she and the Health Minister wrote to the UK Home Office. That is certainly positive. The Executive have a Programme for Government commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. The connection between ketamine and spiking incidents should further encourage the Minister to do everything in her Department's power to make sure that action is taken and real change is made.

I turn now to Members' contributions. My colleague Joanne Bunting eloquently proposed the motion and outlined a personal connection. She has spoken with the Larmour family, who should always be front and centre in our thoughts. Joanne mentioned the production in our schools, which is a positive demonstration to our young people of the dangers. It has reached over 3,000 children and young people in schools. Hopefully, it can be rolled out further in our schools to reach thousands more. She shared shocking testimonies from users that really highlighted the impact of drug use.

Órlaithí Flynn spoke about the widespread use of drugs across every constituency in the country, the role for the Health Minister, the ever-rising use and dangers of online platforms and apps and the widespread accessibility that is at the heart of drug use today. She talked about a rapid drug-testing system, which should certainly be prioritised. Anything like that that can make a difference should be considered seriously. Danny Donnelly gave his support to the Larmour family's campaign and talked about the war on drugs in the UK. That is very fitting terminology: a war on drugs is required. He mentioned how the pattern of drug use —.

Will the Member give way?

Yes, sure.

Sorry, I will just correct that. My point was that the war on drugs in the UK has failed. Drugs are available in cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland. The war-on-drugs policies do not work, and prohibition has not worked: we need to move on and try something else.

Thank you for the intervention. I was coming to that. I note that you said that the pattern of drug use has changed dramatically since 1971. The dramatic increase in the use of drugs in that period reinforces the need for updated legislation.

Doug Beattie talked about the many victims and the tragic consequences that drug use can have. He said that it is not just those who take drugs who are severely impacted on but their families and friends. He outlined the need for additional addiction support services and said that those services must improve. Justin McNulty talked about the consequences of ketamine use and the tragic loss of young lives in his community. He said that the penalties for possession and trafficking are too lenient and he mentioned the importance of prevention campaigns and educational awareness.

Deirdre Hargey talked about the impact of drugs on her community and the importance of not stigmatising addiction. She talked about the community toolkit in her constituency, which, she believes, has had positive impacts in tackling drugs. Connie Egan said that former users should also be involved the review. That is an important point: those people have a key role to play by telling their story so that lessons can be learned. She also highlighted the fact that, ultimately, the whole Executive have a responsibility to end the harm. Mark Durkan, the final contributor, said, rightly, that ketamine is not just a party drug and that tackling such misconceptions should be front and centre. Mark talked about the severe health risks and said that there is no such thing as a low-risk substance. He is supportive of reclassification.

We have had a useful debate. I urge all colleagues to support the motion. We can send an unequivocal message that those who push and peddle drugs need to face the full weight of the law as we tackle the problem.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That this Assembly commends the campaign of Sandra Larmour, who has fought with great dignity to increase awareness and seek reclassification of ketamine following the tragic death of her daughter, Jeni; is alarmed that the prevalence of ketamine has reached record levels in recent years; stresses that ketamine is an extremely dangerous substance and can lead to serious health problems, such as irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys; further stresses that it is one of the most detected substances in incidents of spiking; recognises that behind every drug-related death is a bereaved family; welcomes the UK Government’s decision to commission advice on whether ketamine should become a class A drug; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work with the Home Office to put in place arrangements to allow affected families and relevant stakeholders from Northern Ireland to inform that independent review and future decisions on the regulation and classification of ketamine.

Members, take your ease for a few moments while we make a change at the top Table and get ready for the next debate.

(Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Blair] in the Chair)