Stacey Dooley's Down the K Hole: Why Ketamine Addiction Is in the National Spotlight

As Stacey Dooley's new BBC Three documentary Down the K Hole airs on 20 October 2026, ketamine addiction, bladder damage and recovery are receiving renewed national attention. But another UK documentary has already been bringing these stories to audiences across the country.

Released in September 2026, K-HOLE, produced by Inspired Youth in partnership with Believe in People, explores ketamine addiction through lived experience, professional expertise and an examination of the physical and psychological consequences of prolonged use.

With more than half a million views, K-HOLE has generated significant interest from schools, healthcare professionals, treatment services and communities across the UK.

As two independently produced documentaries address the same urgent public health concern, there is an important opportunity to increase understanding, challenge stigma and encourage earlier access to support.

What Is Stacey Dooley's Down the K Hole About?

Stacey Dooley's Down the K Hole is a BBC Three documentary following people receiving treatment for ketamine addiction at a rehabilitation centre in Stockport.

The 59-minute programme examines the physical and emotional consequences of ketamine dependency and asks whether people affected by addiction can rebuild their lives.

Its broadcast brings greater visibility to an issue affecting young people, families and communities throughout the UK.

Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic with legitimate medical uses, but repeated non-medical use can result in serious physical and psychological harm.

For some people, recreational use develops into dependency, with consequences affecting their health, relationships, education, employment and everyday lives.

The BBC documentary offers an opportunity to bring these experiences into a wider public conversation.

For viewers wanting to understand more about ketamine-related harm, Believe in People's independent documentary K-HOLE provides another perspective.

K-HOLE: The Independent UK Ketamine Documentary Released in September 2026

Produced by Inspired Youth in partnership with Believe in People, K-HOLE was released in September 2026 following its premiere at ODEON Luxe Hull.

Presented by Matthew Butler and directed by Kevin Curran, the documentary travels across the North of England to hear directly from people whose lives have been affected by ketamine addiction.

Rather than focusing exclusively on the substance itself, K-HOLE explores the people behind the headlines, the circumstances surrounding dependency and the challenges associated with seeking treatment and rebuilding lives.

The documentary brings together lived experiences and professional perspectives to examine:

• Ketamine addiction and dependency

• Ketamine-related bladder and urinary tract damage

• Physical and psychological consequences of prolonged use

• Trauma, mental health and substance misuse

• The impact of addiction on families and relationships

• Harm reduction and early intervention

• Treatment pathways and recovery support

At the centre of the film is a simple message: people experiencing problems with ketamine deserve accurate information, compassionate treatment and access to support without stigma.

Two Documentaries, One Important National Conversation

Although Stacey Dooley's Down the K Hole and Believe in People's K-HOLE are entirely separate productions, they explore closely related issues.

The BBC documentary follows people receiving treatment in Stockport, while K-HOLE brings together experiences and professional insight from across the North of England.

Both contribute to a wider conversation about the consequences of ketamine addiction and the importance of treatment and recovery.

Their release within weeks of one another also demonstrates the growing visibility of ketamine-related harm in the UK.

However, awareness alone is not enough.

For documentary storytelling to have a lasting impact, it must help audiences recognise potential problems, challenge misconceptions and understand where support is available.

That is particularly important for young people, families and professionals who may be unfamiliar with the physical consequences of prolonged ketamine use.

Ketamine Bladder Damage: Understanding the Physical Consequences

One of the most serious health complications associated with repeated ketamine use is damage to the bladder and urinary tract.

Often referred to as ketamine-associated cystitis or ketamine bladder syndrome, the condition can cause inflammation, pain and significant disruption to everyday life.

Symptoms may include:

• Frequent or urgent urination

• Pain or burning when urinating

• Persistent bladder or pelvic pain

• Blood in the urine

• Difficulty holding urine

• Reduced bladder capacity in severe cases

The precise mechanisms of ketamine-related bladder injury are complex and continue to be studied. Ketamine and its metabolites are thought to contribute to inflammation and damage within the urinary tract.

In severe cases, people can develop lasting bladder dysfunction and may require specialist urological treatment or surgery.

Ketamine use can also be associated with abdominal pain, sometimes described as K-cramps, as well as other physical and psychological difficulties.

Importantly, not everyone who uses ketamine will experience the same consequences, and the severity of harm can vary.

People experiencing urinary symptoms following ketamine use should seek medical advice promptly. Early recognition and stopping ketamine use can improve outcomes, although some damage may persist.

K-HOLE explores these consequences through personal experiences and professional insight, helping audiences understand why ketamine-related harm should not be dismissed.

The People Behind K-HOLE: Lived Experience, Addiction and Recovery

One of the defining features of K-HOLE is its commitment to placing lived experience at the centre of the documentary.

The film features contributors including Amber, Mark and Finley, who share personal experiences of ketamine-related harm and the challenges associated with addiction.

Their accounts help illustrate the human consequences of substance dependency beyond statistics and clinical terminology.

The documentary also features professionals working in treatment and recovery, including ReNew Lead Nurse Jo Moore, bringing clinical and frontline perspectives to the discussion.

These contributions demonstrate why effective responses to addiction require more than simply telling people to stop using substances.

People may face complex physical health problems, psychological difficulties, trauma, social pressures and barriers to accessing treatment.

Listening to lived experience helps professionals and communities understand these challenges while reducing the shame and judgement that can prevent people from asking for help.

Over Half a Million Views: The Impact of the K-HOLE Campaign

Since its release in September 2026, K-HOLE has attracted more than half a million views, reaching audiences well beyond traditional drug and alcohol treatment services.

The documentary has generated interest from schools, colleges, healthcare professionals, community organisations and people seeking information about ketamine-related harm.

Produced by Inspired Youth in partnership with Believe in People, the documentary forms part of a wider awareness campaign supported by funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside.

The campaign aims to encourage informed conversations about ketamine, improve awareness of its potential consequences and help people recognise when support may be needed.

Educational resources, professional engagement and opportunities for community screenings are helping extend the conversation beyond the documentary itself.

The ambition is not simply to generate views, but to turn awareness into meaningful engagement, earlier intervention and improved understanding.

Why Early Intervention and Treatment Matter

Ketamine-related harm can develop gradually, and people may not immediately connect symptoms such as frequent urination, pelvic pain or abdominal discomfort with their substance use.

This makes early recognition particularly important.

People who are concerned about ketamine dependency or physical symptoms should be encouraged to seek support without fear of judgement.

Effective responses may involve drug and alcohol treatment services, primary care, mental health support and specialist urology services where necessary.

For professionals, recognising possible ketamine-related harm and asking appropriate questions can help people access relevant care sooner.

For families and friends, understanding the warning signs and approaching conversations with compassion can make it easier for someone to seek help.

Recovery experiences differ, and some physical consequences can be long-lasting. Nevertheless, support, treatment and positive change remain possible.

Ketamine Addiction Support in Hull and Across the UK

In Hull, ReNew, delivered by Change Grow Live, provides free and confidential support for people affected by drugs and alcohol.

The K-HOLE campaign also accompanies the Hull Ketamine Support Pathway, helping professionals and people who use ketamine recognise potential problems and understand where support is available.

Find out more about ReNew:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/ReNew

For people outside Hull, support is available through local drug and alcohol treatment services, GPs and NHS services.

If you are experiencing urinary symptoms or other physical health concerns associated with ketamine use, seek medical assessment.

You do not need to wait until problems become severe before asking for help.

Watch K-HOLE: The Full UK Ketamine Documentary

As Stacey Dooley's Down the K Hole brings ketamine addiction to a national television audience, K-HOLE offers another opportunity to hear directly from people affected by ketamine-related harm and the professionals supporting recovery.

Released in September 2026, the independent documentary continues to contribute to conversations about prevention, treatment, lived experience and stigma.

Whether you are a young person, parent, educator, healthcare professional or someone concerned about ketamine use, K-HOLE offers an accessible introduction to the realities behind the headlines.

Watch the full K-HOLE documentary for free:

https://believeinpeoplepodcast.com/k-hole/

Because behind every headline is a person, and everyone affected by addiction deserves understanding, dignity and access to support.

About the production: K-HOLE is an Inspired Youth production in partnership with Believe in People, presented by Matthew Butler, directed by Kevin Curran and produced for Believe in People by Robert Lawson. The documentary is independent of BBC Three, Stacey Dooley and the producers of Down the K Hole.