Beth Ashton, from Skelmersdale, began using ketamine as a ‘boost’ on nights out after the tragic loss of her baby, Roman, who was stillborn at 38 weeks in 2018Jon Macpherson Chief Reporter, Neil Shaw Assistant Editor and Emily Carubia
19:24, 30 Sep 2025
Beth Ashton died at 25 after becoming addicted to party drug Ketamine for years
A heartbroken mum is urging parents to recognise the warning signs of ketamine use after her 25-year-old daughter tragically died following a hidden, prolonged battle with addiction to the party drug.
Beth Ashton, from Skelmersdale, turned to ketamine as a ‘boost’ on nights out after the devastating loss of her baby, Roman, who was stillborn at 38 weeks in 2018. According to her mum, Natalie Ashton, the drug initially provided Beth with an emotional escape, but it quickly became a dangerous crutch.
Despite working in a pharmacy and maintaining a ‘high-functioning’ facade, Beth, 25, was secretly spending up to £60 a day on the class B drug at the peak of her addiction. She managed to keep her ketamine use hidden from her family for six years.
Natalie, 44, said she only discovered the truth when Beth was hospitalised in August last year. Over the subsequent three months, Beth’s weight plummeted to just five stone and she became completely incontinent – a side-effect of chronic ketamine usage is its damaging impact on the bladder lining.
Mum Natalie Ashton, 44, with daughter Beth Ashton who died at 25
Beth died on November 9 due to complications associated with ketamine. Her mum insists every parent should be aware of the warning signs to look for with this ‘killer’ drug, including ‘strong tell-tale signs’ such as frequent urination, cramps, and checking for powder residue on their child’s nose, reports Lancs Live.
Natalie, who lives in Skelmersdale, said: “I feel so angry that there isn’t more awareness about this drug. Ketamine is so cheap and so available. It’s a slow killer, it’s destroying the body before people even know they have a problem. Ketamine destroyed my life and my family. It robbed me of my baby.
“She had to have triage meetings to get her referrals. She was just waiting for them to get in touch and say what the next step was [when she died]. She was no further forward. There needs to be some access to a quick rehab centre. The pain is unbearable. I’ve spoken to other mums and people are waiting 18 months to get their kids into a rehab centre.
“She was admitted to hospital in August. I was fighting to get support in place for her in September. But by November, just weeks later, Beth was gone. The system was too slow, too complicated, and too unprepared to deal with ketamine addiction. The support was simply not good enough.”
Beth with her brother, Thomas
Natalie says that she believes ketamine initially helped Beth get a ‘positive mindspace’ after the loss of her baby at 38 weeks pregnant.
Natalie said: “It was Beth’s dream to be a mum. It would’ve been my first grandchild. I knew Beth would’ve been a really good mum. That was taken away from her and I think that’s where it all started to go wrong. I think initially ketamine helped her get into a positive mindspace. She wasn’t using it before having Roman as far as I’m aware.
“I think she started going out with her friends and it started as a recreational thing, then she realised it helped her with her mental health. It made her feel good before creeping into daily use. It gave her this boost before she became reliant on it. Then she started having bouts of serious pains, which we now know would’ve been ketamine cramps.
“But we didn’t know she was using. We thought the cramps were lasting damage from the pre-eclampsia [she had while pregnant]. The horrible thing about ketamine is it causes this severe pain and the only thing that gets rid of that pain is to use again. It’s a vicious cycle.”
Mum Natalie Ashton said the drug ‘sucked the life’ out of her daughter
As Beth’s health began deteriorating, she confided in her mum about her long-term addiction to ketamine. Natalie said the drug ‘sucked the life’ out of her daughter, which left her ‘extremely thin and frail’ before her sudden death in November last year.
Natalie said: “She was so high-functioning, I just didn’t know. I was shocked she was able to hide it from people for so long. Last summer, she went extremely thin. In August, she was in the hospital and just broke down and told me she had an addiction. She couldn’t hide it at this point, she was so thin. My four-year-old weighed more than her.
“It just sucked the life out of her. It got to the point where I think she knew she was going to die. I didn’t know anything about ketamine. I’d heard of it but I didn’t know anything. She was incontinent, wearing adult diapers. She told me it had taken over her life and she just needed more and more.
“She’d have a dealer just leave it in her letterbox and she’d transfer the money. She hid her addiction from everyone. She withdrew from everyone. She was so frail, she couldn’t walk in the last few months. My world just shattered the day she died. It’s like her little body gave up.”
Natalie is now determined on raising awareness of the dangers of ketamine after the drug ‘destroyed’ her family.
Natalie said: “Beth was my best friend. We’ve got such similar personalities. She was the life and soul of the party and loved by so many. She’s left a massive hole. I thought I was on the ball and would know straight away, but I didn’t see it. Parents should be looking out for are signs of frequent urination, cramps, and check for powder on their [child’s] nose. They can be strong tell-tale signs.
“If something isn’t done, there’s going to be a wave of grieving parents all over the world from this. I want to create a hub for young people who have a safe space to talk and I can help advocate for referrals for treatment in my local community. That’s my goal.”