FOI reference: FOI-2026-3493
You asked
Please provide the number of people reporting ketamine use in the South West of England in 2015, 2021, and 2025. For each year, please include a breakdown of adults and young people, as well as by county (Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Bristol and Cornwall).
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we do not hold all the data you have requested.
We do not create estimates of the number of ketamine users at regional or county levels specifically. Because of the suspension of the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we do not hold data for the year ending March 2021. Additionally, we do not collect data on drug use from anyone under the age of 16 years or over the age of 59 years, so our estimates refer to this age range only.
For the year ending March 2025, estimates for the number of people aged 16 to 59 years who have used ketamine in their lifetime, the last year, and the last month, are available at the England and Wales level in Tables 1.04, 1.05 and 1.06 of our Drug Misuse in England and Wales Appendix table.
Prevalence estimates for drug use (including ketamine) by region for the year ending March 2025 can be found in Tables 3.02 and 3.07. In the South West region, this was 1.1%. In Table 3.07, a timeline of ketamine use in the last year is included under the banner of "any drug" since the year ending March 2007. Because of small base sizes, we have not created estimates with more granular breakdowns.
For the year ending March 2015, Table 3.03 in the Home Office's Tables for drug misuse findings shows the prevalence of ketamine use at the regional level (0.4% in the South West).
If you have any further questions, please email CrimeStatistics@ons.gov.uk and we will endeavour to help.
NHS England Digital and the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (OHID) also produce information on drug misuse and may be able to assist you further.