Samantha Sherratt says young adults are presenting with life-changing bladder problems, while another reader writes that her daughter took her own life after years of addiction

Our hearts and gratitude go to “Nick” and Jack Curran for so bravely sharing the devastating impact ketamine has had on their lives (The agony of ketamine addiction: ‘I felt like I was peeing glass’, 5 November). Their stories starkly illustrate the unexpected crisis unfolding in urology clinics nationwide as more young adults present with bladder issues tied to their recreational use of the drug.

Last month, Jasmine King, a urology specialist nurse practitioner with North Bristol NHS trust, discussed this growing problem at an insights webinar held by the Urostomy Association to mark World Ostomy Day. She pointed out that not only do we have to raise awareness among younger people, as Elle Hunt’s article explores, but among health professionals too, as the symptoms of recreational ketamine use are not always recognised by GPs and nurses.