Delamere in the News: What happened in April 2025

What’s included?

1. Introduction
2. Our alumni ‘Susan’ shared her battle with alcohol in an article…
3. Our resident Psychiatrist Dr Catherine Carney spoke to The Independent…
4. Our alumni Will shared his powerful story with The Sun…
5. Our fantastic Head of Clinical Care, Steph Massey, spoke to ITV This Morning…
6. Our colleague and Recovery Mentor Jerome shared his own personal story…
7. Our alumni shared his experience taking methamphetamine…

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This year so far, ketamine addiction has been one of the most discussed topics across news outlets in the UK, whether that be from high-profile celebrity deaths, such as with The Vivienne, or concerning new statistics about the rise in people taking this drug.

Our experts have frequently been sharing their views and advice on this subject, which has ranged from appearances on TV, to features on the topic in national newspapers, to more regional focused stories on the same subject in local news outlets.

Outside of this, we are grateful to some of our amazing alumni for sharing their own personal stories with journalists, along with their experience at Delamere, which we hope will empower and provide comfort to readers..

This is the second instalment of our ongoing ‘Delamere in the News’ blog series.

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Top stories of the month 

Our alumni ‘Susan’ shared her battle with alcohol in an article about the rise in alcoholism for the over-65s and Martin shared his thoughts with Antonia Hoyle (7 March)

The Department for Health and Social Care revealed that the over-65s was the only demographic in which hospital admissions have increased for alcohol-related conditions between 2023 and 2024. This was a record high and 25% higher than before the start of the pandemic.

This is in distinct contrast to Gen Z, where a fifth reportedly don’t drink at all.

Susan* shared how she used alcohol to cope with stress or to self-medicate, and that it was simply social convention to drink. This resulted in social withdrawal, severe mental health problems, and a lack of being able to function normally. “I spiralled quickly, I was so weak through lack of food I could barely stand. I was absolutely broken.”

Martin shared how retirement can be a “trigger” for some and that the loss of status, mixed with having more time on their hands, and suffering grief or loss, can be a recipe for disaster.

Read this empowering and educational story here.

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Our resident Psychiatrist Dr Catherine Carney spoke to The Independent about the health impacts of tech addiction (23 March)

The increase in tech addiction, specifically amongst young people, has been well documented in the press for the last few years. Recent studies have revealed a direct correlation between social media use and anxiety, just one of the negative impacts it can have.

In the article “From ‘text neck’ to anxiety, here’s what screen time is doing to your health”, Dr Carney speaks on the consequences of tech addiction. 

She explained: “Social media in general can create anxieties and extra pressures which make people feel like their lives seem inadequate and insignificant. The same goes for when you’re seeking likes and comments on a photo – it can both boost your confidence but if you don’t get ‘enough’ it can have the opposite effect.”

Dr Carney also provided some advice for managing screen time, beginning with recognising the issue, and setting time limits or finding an alternative.

Read the full story here. 

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Our alumni Will shared his powerful story with The Sun, and Dr Catherine Carney was interviewed of the harms of this drugs (25 March)

After struggling with ketamine addiction and reaching rock bottom, former guest Will spoke to The Sun to spread awareness of the consequences of taking the drug. 

This followed the news of the death of drag star The Vivienne, who died by cardiac arrest caused by the effects of taking ketamine.

Dr Carney told The Sun: “The lining of the bladder can shrink over time and be extremely painful for those experiencing it, which can often lead to lower abdominal pain and pain when passing urine, as well as bleeding. It’s usually what has forced people to get help because they can’t tolerate it any more.

“We’ve had young men in agony, wetting the bed. Their whole life is focused on where there’s a toilet because they can only hold urine for ten minutes; for a teenager or someone in their early 20s, that’s absolutely life-changing.”

In the emotive interview, Will states that ketamine is “not harmless. It rewires your brain, it takes over your life.”

Read the full story here.

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Our fantastic Head of Clinical Care, Steph Massey, spoke to ITV This Morning about the rise in ketamine addiction in the UK (26 March)

In March, Steph Massey headed to the ITV Studios to speak to Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about the worrying increase in ketamine usage in the UK. 

As more young people between 16 and 24 are using this drug without understanding the consequences, Steph discussed why the drug is becoming more popular.

She explained that alongside the increase in addiction generally post pandemic, the fact that ketamine is “widely available, and at a relatively cheap price point comparatively to things that are socially acceptable such as alcohol.”

The segment aired following a study that revealed consumption of ketamine has risen by 85% this past year, two thirds of which are 16-24 year olds, and the number of under-18s entering treatment for ketamine has increased by 173% in the last five years.

When asked what effect ketamine has on the body, Steph explained: “It causes a sedating effect, and people respond to it quite differently. Some may have a euphoric, out of body, dissociative experience, that gives them a release. Others may encounter a ‘k hole’, which can leave them feeling depressed and isolated.”

Watch the full interview here. 

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Our colleague and Recovery Mentor Jerome shared his own personal story in a ghost-written first-person piece in the Daily Mail (22nd April)

Jerome Fagan has been a Recovery Mentor at Delamere for over a year, having stayed at the clinic as a guest a few years prior. 

He shared his story with Antonia Hoyle, detailing his experiences being addicted to alcohol, and how he found help at Delamere. 

Of his stay at the clinic, Jerome said: “I was with men and women from different walks of life, but in terms of addiction borne of low self-esteem and a need to hide our true selves, our stories were not dissimilar.”

Jerome’s calming presence as a recovery mentor has helped the journey of many guests in the last year, and as phrased by him, “when a guest arrives, shaking and scared, I can tell them I’ve got a pretty good idea what they’re going through; that life won’t be easy at first, but if they put in the work, sobriety will become second nature.”

Our team at Delamere is made up of people who understand the journey through addiction recovery, many of whom having done it themselves, making them compassionate to all stages of recovery.

Read the full story here. 

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Our alumni shared his experience taking methamphetamine in an article highlighting the rise in the drug being used for Chemsex with The Times  (25 April)

Chemsex is used to describe sexual intercourse under the influence of psychoactive drugs. However, it can lead to psychosis, overdoses and breathing difficulties.

The article in The Times, titled “straight couples dabbling in chemsex have to call in paramedics”, revealed that ambulances in London are called at least once a day to people who have become ill during chemsex. 

A former guest at Delamere shared his experience taking meth to deal with the pressures of 20 hour days and missed promotions, as well as chemsex.

The effect of taking the drug was severe, as he stated “I isolated myself because people got on my nerves. Over a six-month period, I had more than 300 Deliveroos as I couldn’t face preparing food or going out to socialise.”

Read the full story here.

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