A mum from Lincolnshire is left heartbroken over the death of her 20-year-old daughter who suffered a two-year addiction to a Class-B party drug.
Sophie Russell started taking ketamine after her nanna, who she was very close to, died.
At the height of her addiction, the school breakfast helper was consuming the drug on her own in her bedroom on a daily basis. She first took the party drug in 2021 on a night out with friends.
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Sophie was found unresponsive at her dad's house on the morning of 26 September, as a cause of death is yet to be determined.
"Around mid-November time in 2021 when she turned 18, she started going out with her friends and began taking ketamine while out partying as a lot of young people do unfortunately," mum-of-two, Tracy Marelli, said.
"I wasn't aware that she was taking drugs at all.
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"The first time I knew something was wrong, I kept ringing her up and she was slurring. She couldn't get some of her words out. This was happening quite often.
"Once I found out about what was happening, I told her to stop taking it. We had that conversation but she clearly couldn't."
Tracey, 48, explained that Sophie, who had no underlying health issues, started to experience drastic weight loss, bladder issues, and severe pain. Regular ketamine use can cause bladder problems, leading it to scar and shrink.
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Meanwhile, Tracy said that she reached out to drug and alcohol services who put Sophie on a seven-day detox, which didn't work.
Tracy said: "We sought help for it straight away. She wanted to stop but felt she physically couldn't.
"She had drug support workers for a good year and a half but it just wasn't happening.
"I begged the drug support worker before she died that she needed rehab for 30 days.
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"She said ketamine was everywhere, she couldn't get away from it. I feel she was let down by the whole system - doctors and drug support workers.
"She went to A&E the week before she died because she was experiencing severe back pain but she was sent home with antibiotics for a UTI or kidney infection."
The family are still awaiting the toxicology results to determine the cause of Sophie's death.
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Derek Ward, director of public health for Lincolnshire County Council, said: "Through the Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership, we provide a wide range of support services to help people to make positive changes around their drug and alcohol use. This includes recovery services, clinical support, psychosocial support, as well as needle programmes, detoxification and residential rehabilitation.
"With ketamine users, the Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership looks at all possible options to create a person-centred recovery plan to address current drug use and facilitate a long-term recovery plan.
"Every death is a tragedy for the family, friends and loved ones. We regularly review drug-related deaths in Lincolnshire to best understand the circumstances around each case and implement the lessons learned into our service provision.
“If you feel that substance use is a causing a problem in your life, or that of a loved one - however small or large - change needs to happen, and we encourage you to seek support by contacting 0800 304 7021."
Sophie's friends recently took on the Yorkshire three-peak challenge to raise money for the 'Taking Action on Addiction Campaign'.
To donate, visit this GoFundMe page.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week
Anish Vij