UMVA has learned that a heart-wrenching case of a young woman's tragic death has shed light on the alarming rise of ketamine abuse among young people in the UK.
Isabelle Sapherson-Moralee, known as Izzy, died after her body shut down from years of taking the class B drug. Her devastated mother, Ann Moralle, revealed that Izzy's addiction began during the Covid lockdowns in 2020, and despite her efforts to get help, the 22-year-old's condition rapidly deteriorated.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Izzy's mother had been fighting for 18 months to get her daughter the help she desperately needed, warning health officials that her condition would be fatal if left untreated. Ann begged Izzy to let her call an ambulance as her condition worsened, but Izzy refused, saying "no more hospitals mum, I just want to be at home with you, I can't do it anymore".
Izzy's cause of death was given as respiratory depression due to combined severe morphine and gabapentin toxicity. The postmortem examination also found that she had biliary sepsis, a localized infection in the liver, which may have contributed to her death.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Izzy's addiction had become "out of control" by the end of 2023, with her mother claiming that health officials missed opportunities to intervene earlier. Ann felt that her daughter's trust in doctors had been shattered after a "vile" experience with a urologist at a hospital, which led to Izzy being discharged from several medical teams.
The inquest heard from a drug and alcohol support charity that was working with Izzy before her death, which highlighted the vicious cycle of ketamine addiction. The charity's representative explained that users often become trapped in a cycle of damage and pain relief, with ketamine being used to mask mental health issues and external stressors.
Izzy's mother described her daughter as a "beautiful, funny girl" who was highly intelligent and talented, but also struggled with addiction. Ann expressed her anguish, saying she had saved many lives as a nurse and flight attendant, but was powerless to save her own daughter.
The inquest into Izzy's death continues, with her mother advocating for greater awareness and support for those struggling with addiction. This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of ketamine abuse and the need for more effective interventions.
