Father Speaks Out After Son’s Tragic Death from Ketamine

The father of a young man who died from severe ketamine addiction is calling for urgent changes to drug classifications following his son’s tragic death at the age of 23. Craig Hamer, 43, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, shared his son Ethan’s harrowing story, highlighting the devastating impact of the drug on his life and the challenges faced by families struggling with addiction.

Ethan Hamer began using ketamine, a class B drug in the UK, when he was just 14 years old. His dependency escalated dramatically after a family tragedy in 2020, and it worsened further following his mother’s death in 2022. Craig revealed that Ethan was consuming up to seven grams of the drug daily, which resulted in significant health issues, including severe bladder damage that caused constant urination and a foul odor.

On April 28, 2023, Ethan passed away shortly after being discharged from the hospital, where he had received treatment for kidney failure. A coroner’s hearing confirmed that his death was drug-related, noting he had not consumed food or drink for several days prior to his death. Craig described the alarming transformation of his son, saying, “I was basically watching my son, who was a very confident, popular lad… turn into this person within a few months that people wouldn’t want to go near.”

Ethan’s addiction led to significant debts with drug dealers, and he resorted to distributing drugs himself to fund his habit. Craig recounted the painful reality of his son’s situation, stating, “He had food thrown all over his house. He got to a point where he couldn’t eat; he would eat Dolmio sauce raw off the spoon. It destroyed every part of him.”

Despite efforts to seek help, including contacting social services, Craig felt powerless to secure the necessary support for Ethan. Just days before his death, on April 24, he called for an ambulance due to severe stomach pain and loss of bladder control. However, after a day in hospital, Ethan left against medical advice, dismissing doctors’ urgent warnings about his health. Craig’s plea for a social services visit was missed, and tragically, by April 28, Ethan was gone.

In light of this tragedy, Craig is advocating for ketamine to be reclassified from a class B substance to class A, which would impose stricter penalties on dealers and potentially deter young people from experimenting with the drug. “It needs to be classified class A so there’s tougher sentences straight away,” he emphasized. “It will become more expensive, because dealers will want more for the risk.”

A crowdfunding page to cover Ethan’s funeral expenses and support his four-month-old daughter, Alora-Jane, has garnered over £2,500 in donations. Craig urges parents to adopt a zero-tolerance approach if they suspect their children are using ketamine. “If there are any kids out there on it – parents need to take it really seriously,” he said. “Get them into rehab, push to just do anything you can to help them, otherwise you’re going to lose them.”

Ethan’s story serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of drug addiction, particularly among young people. As Craig continues his campaign for change, he hopes to raise awareness about the urgent need for effective support systems and drug policy reform to prevent further tragedies.