Mom Says Ketamine Addiction Left Late Son with Bladder 'the Size of a Marble'

Rian Rogers was found dead in his shower from what his mom says is a ketamine addiction that started with recreational use at festivals

A UK mom is sounding the alarm on the fatal effects of ketamine after her son, who she says was addicted to the drug, died from “ketamine toxicity.”

Clare Rogers, 47, says her son Rian Rogers was just 26 when he was found dead in his shower in April. She said he used ketamine so frequently that his bladder shrank to “the size of a marble,” according to an interview with the Times of London. 

“His use initially started at festivals like many youngsters do, after the death of his best friend and then being on furlough from the Covid 19 pandemic his use [escalated] and he delved deep into addiction that he could not get out of” Rogers wrote on her Change.org petition, where she’s hoping to have the drug reclassified as a Class A drug, a more severe category that carries stronger penalties for possession and distribution.

“His mental health deteriorated, his bladder suffered, he was passing blood and chunks of his bladder lining, he was suffering excruciating K cramps and then the vicious cycle commences, taking the ketamine which has [anesthetic] properties to deal with the pain,” she continued on the petition.

As Rogers pointed out, ketamine is popular at music festivals and raves, where it’s often seen as a harmless drug. As the National Institute of Health reported in 2002, “This drug seems to be abused, mainly by the intranasal route, owing to its hallucinogen effects. Its used in ‘rave-party’ appears to be marked by unsuspected consumption.”

Commonly dismissed as “horse tranquilizer,” ketamine’s “predominant legitimate use is as a veterinary anesthetic,” the U.S. Department of Justice points out. But it’s often used illegally and recreationally because it’s also a hallucinogenic that can make people feel “calm and relaxed,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency says.

The drug was named as the cause of death for Friends star Matthew Perry, who was practicing ketamine infusion therapy. His last treatment took place just "one and a half weeks before" his death, the coroner’s report stated. However, the report noted that "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine's half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less."

Related: 'Teen Mom: The Next Chapter' Star Tyler Baltierra Opens Up About Ketamine Therapy: 'It's a Pretty Intense Ride'

Ketamine’s impacts on the bladder, however, are less publicized. It causes a condition the National Institute of Health describes as "ketamine-induced cystitis (KIC)."

"Common KIC-related problems are urinary pain and discomfort, bladder epithelial barrier damage, reduced bladder storage and increased pressure, ureter stenosis, and kidney failure, all of which significantly impact patients’ quality of life.," the NIH says.

"Furthermore, it becomes a vicious cycle when KIC patients attempt to manage their urinary pain with increased ketamine use," which is what Clare said happened to Rian.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“He was in a lot of pain over the last three years due to his bladder issues and would regularly take tramadol, ibuprofen, paracetamol et cetera but none could give him good relief to sleep,” his mother told the Times. “His bladder had shrunk to the size of a marble. It was really ulcerated. His ketamine use was because of the pain and addiction.”

Rian’s family sent him to a private addiction and rehabilitation clinic. But three weeks after coming out, he relapsed. Once back at school, his bladder symptoms had gotten so bad he was moved to a room with a private bathroom.

And she told the UK Sun, Rian’s bladder capacity had shrunk from 500ml to just 90ml. He was on the waiting list for bladder surgery when he died.

Related: Catherine Oxenberg on How Ketamine Helped Her Overcome NXIVM Trauma: ‘A Miracle’ (Exclusive)

“This drug is a killer,” Clare told the Times. “It is taking bladders from young children. Why is ketamine not class A when it is doing so much harm to our kids?”

“It’s such a waste of life.”

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.