Breaking the Silence: One Mum’s Mission to Raise Ketamine Awareness in West Lancashire

When 25-year-old Beth Ashton died in November 2024 from ketamine-related complications, her mum Natalie’s world shattered. Bright, funny, and loved by everyone, Beth’s death exposed something deeper, a shocking lack of awareness about the dangers of ketamine, especially among young people who believe it’s harmless.

Determined to make a difference, Natalie founded West Lancs Ketamine Awareness on 14 September 2025. What began as a Facebook page has quickly grown into a lifeline for families and individuals across Skelmersdale and beyond. Each Monday morning, 10–15 people gather at Christ the Servant Church (soon to be Martin House) in Birkrig for relaxed, judgement-free Coffee Mornings, a space to talk, listen, and heal together.

“I started this completely on my own,” Natalie says. “No funding, no plan, just determination. But the love and honesty people bring have blown me away.” With recent support from Red Rose Recovery, the group has secured its first funding to continue the sessions and launch educational workshops. Partnerships with Ketamine Education Services (KES) and The Lifeboat are also helping shape future outreach.

The group’s mission is simple but powerful: to break the silence and remove stigma. “Our kids aren’t bad, they’re struggling,” Natalie explains. “Ketamine gives them a false sense of peace, while it’s silently destroying their bodies and minds.”

In 2026, the group plans to host online meetings and deliver workshops in schools, arming young people and parents with life-saving information. “This isn’t about blame,” says Natalie. “It’s about understanding, compassion, and starting honest conversations, before it’s too late.”

For anyone affected, worried, or simply wanting to learn, everyone is welcome. As Natalie puts it, “We can’t change the past, but together, we can stop this from happening to someone else’s child.”

Find out more about West Lancs Ketamine Awareness by checking them out on Facebook.