On the eve of her flight to Japan, Izabel Rose took the last of her significant ketamine supply, genuinely intending to enjoy a final extravaganza.

Her daily consumption of the drug had begun to take a severe toll on her well-being.

In a state of distress, crying in agony, she believed she had reached her lowest point and clung to the hope that this month-long journey would help her to achieve sobriety.

However, she confessed, “The moment I touched down in Japan…I found myself on my phone, seeking out drugs.”

That choice, made under the influence of her addiction, led to a five-month imprisonment in Japan.

“It has been the most harrowing experience of my life – yet it may also be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Izzy’s relationship with ketamine took shape in the midst of London’s vibrant rave culture.

Legitimately, ketamine is used in human and veterinary medicine as an anesthetic and for pain management, with increasing application in treating treatment-resistant depression.

As a recreational substance, many seek it for its disassociative, relaxing, and euphoric effects. Its allure is partly due to its affordability and wide availability.

Izzy noted that among her peers, the use of ketamine became “incredibly normalized,” with what began as a weekend party activity evolving into a daily routine.

After a year that she now recognizes was marked by addiction, she began to experience debilitating side effects: frequent urinary issues and an excruciating abdominal pain that felt as if someone was pressing down on her chest.

“I would spend days under a scalding hot tap, applying it to my stomach to the point that it left burn marks,” she recalls.

The only way to alleviate her suffering was to consume more ketamine.

She organized the trip to Japan to mark her 26th birthday, believing that escaping London would help her break free from her substance abuse.

However, she realized that “addiction is indifferent to geography.”

Upon her arrival in Tokyo, she reached out to a friend in London to see if they had connections for obtaining drugs.

“It never occurred to me” to import illicit substances, she admitted. Yet, her contact proposed sending ketamine directly to her hotel in Osaka.

“My addiction was influencing me, convincing me that it was a brilliant idea,” Izzy disclosed.

She transferred £150 for a package of 7 grams (0.25 ounces) of ketamine, which was dispatched a week later as part of a birthday greeting.

Unfortunately, it was intercepted by Japanese customs.

Izzy recounted the “indescribable fear” upon discovering Japanese law enforcement at her hotel early in the morning, armed with a warrant to seize her phone and laptop.

Following a 24-hour interrogation, she was taken to the Osaka Detention Center, where she faced prosecution and subsequently spent five months in solitary confinement.

During the first month, she had a complete communication ban, which was eventually lifted because she complied with the legal process.

Nevertheless, she was still prohibited from making phone calls, with letters being her only means of communication—each taking a month for translation and verification by the authorities.

Her voice trembles as she remembers: “I caused immense pain and trauma to my family, and I hope to forgive myself for that—I’m still working on it. I feel very fortunate to be alive.”

Life in the Japanese prison was regimented, with a strict schedule for sleeping, meals, and listening to the radio. Showers were limited to three times a week.

Inmates were not allowed to communicate or even make eye contact with each other.

Isolated in her cell, Izzy found ample time for reflection, dedicating herself to writing in a journal, meditating, reading, and praying—even though she had never practiced religion before.

This period marked the beginning of her journey toward recovery.

Released in September 2025, she spent Christmas with her family, rekindling her relationship with her younger sister.

Returning to London posed its own challenges.

“I continue to face cravings daily; it’s a struggle. I’m not perfect in this journey… but I’ve gained so much insight.”

Determined to transform this “intense and healing” ordeal into something beneficial for herself and others, Izzy took to TikTok to share her story under the username Hyaku-Ban—meaning “100” in Japanese, a name given to her during her time at the Osaka Detention Center.

By openly discussing her experiences on social media, she aims to “dismantle the stigma” surrounding addiction, realizing that “shame only fuels your addiction.”

In recent discussions, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) determined that ketamine should not be reclassified as a Class A drug and should remain categorized as Class B.

This decision followed an increase in the drug’s usage among individuals aged 16 to 24 in England, where statistics indicated a tripling of use since 2016.

The ACMD emphasized that merely reclassifying the drug would not mitigate the harms caused by ketamine, including the type of dependency that Izzy experienced prior to her incarceration.

Izzy shared, “Addiction is blind to your circumstances, your personality, or your history—it can impact anyone. You can fall into that downward spiral without even realizing it.”

She hopes to “help others feel less isolated and ideally prevent someone from making the same choices I did.”

“I truly believe my future is bright. Before, I was staring down at death.”