Ketamine: The problem and the answer?
Wednesday 21st May 2025, Swansea Arena
We are really excited to announce our theme for our 2025 conference, ‘Ketamine: The problem and the answer?’. We will be bringing some of the leading experts on all things ketamine related to Swansea to showcase the latest trends and research associated to ketamine, from its recreational use to its use as a treatment option for various health related issues.
On the day
Registration will open from 9.30am for refreshments with the conference and welcoming address commencing at 10.00am. The conference will end at 16.00pm. Please bring your confirmation email with you, preferably digitally to help us reduce our use of paper. There is ample parking available, but please be considerate of the environment and car share where you can (directions to the venue below). There will be a buffet lunch and refreshments breaks during the conference.
Buying your tickets
All tickets can be purchased via our Eventbrite page, via the button below. If booking on someone else’s behalf, please ensure you complete the order form with their details.
- Early bird ticket (available until 31st March 2025) – £65 per person
- General sale ticket (available from Tuesday 1st April until Tuesday 6th May 2025) – £80 per person
- Group booking of 5 – 9 people – £65 per person
- Group booking of 10 or more people – £60 per person
Dr. Karenza Moore, Reader in Sociology at Newcastle University, founder of clubresearch.org and dance music DJ
Dr Karenza Moore is a Reader in Sociology at Newcastle University, UK. She has been researching and writing about illicit drugs, rave/dance music culture and youth leisure for over 20 years, and has published widely on illicit drug prevalence, emerging trends, markets, laws and policy responses, as well as on drug markets and new technologies. Karenza works with drug harm reduction and policy change organisations including Crew, The Beckley Foundation, and Release, alongside statutory service providers. Her most recent research focuses on youth ketamine use, and her forthcoming co-authored book Researching With Youth: An Introduction to Youth-Centred Research will be published by Bloomsbury in October 2025.
Jo Moore, Registered Manager at Birchwood Residential Detox and Rehab Facility
Jo is the Registered Manager of the Birchwood @ Kaleidoscope House Residential Detox and Rehab facility in Heswall on the Wirral. Jo has 24 years of experience working within health and social care. As an RGN her career includes working in acute care settings, mental health and substance use. Jo will speak about her experiences of providing clinical support for Ketamine detoxification as well as the vital and often-missed role of rehabilitation from Ketamine use.
Professor Mitul Mehta PhD, Professor of Neuroimaging & Psychopharmacology, Director, Centre for Innovative Therapeutics, Kings College London
Professor Mitul Mehta graduated from the University of Cambridge, specialising in Neuroscience. His PhD research focussed on dopaminergic modulation of cognitive function in healthy volunteers to validate animal models. He was one of the first researchers to provide insight into the mechanisms behind working memory enhancement with the stimulant drug methylphenidate at the level of the brain system. Following his PhD he extended this work as an MRC Fellow at Imperial College, London with PET imaging. This early work was recognised by an award from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. On joining the then Institute of Psychiatry he received a Wellcome Trust Value in People Award to pursue the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging in understanding drug effects on cognitive networks. He is currently based in the Department of Neuroimaging at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience where his group uses neuroimaging and behavioural testing to assay drug action for advanced mechanistic understanding and as translational tools to accelerate drug development. This work has benefitted from close collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry allowing Prof. Mehta to pursue the study of little explored systems in the humans with novel compounds, including those to reverse the effects of ketamine. He is currently the lead for the Experimental Medicine & Novel Therapeutics of the Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, Director of the Centre for Innovative Therapeutics and Research Integrity Champion for his faculty. He was previously a council member and officer for the British Association for Psychopharmacology.
Liam Watson, Drugs Consultant and Trainer and founder of Drugs Training
Liam has extensive experience in the drugs field and has been responsible for the development and implementation of a range of initiatives with drugs services, local authorities, police drugs squads, criminal justice, universities and commercial businesses. He was Chair of the Welsh Forum of Drug Specialists for five years and a Visiting Lecturer at the Department of Health and Social Care at the University of The West of England in Bristol.
While working at the University of Wales College of Medicine Liam was the author of “Helping Patients Quit: Guidelines for GPs”. Previously he carried out research into the beliefs and perceptions of recreational Ecstasy users. The findings of the study, entitled “Coming Up On Ecstasy’ were presented at the International Public Health Conference, organised by the World Health Organisation.
Liam has worked as a Consultant for DrugScope, Addaction, Lifeline, Welsh Government, Barnardos and various Police Forces. He previously sat on the ‘New Psychoactives’ sub group of APOSM and presented on the theme of online drugs marketplaces at the Club Health Conference in Prague.
He has appeared on BBC, ITN and other news outlets over the years talking about substance use issues. Liam’s courses are always very highly evaluated. He is an engaging and dynamic trainer who is able to communicate ideas and information with clarity and humour.
Dr. Sara Costi, Wellcome Trust Doctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford and team member at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s ketamine service
Bio and photo coming soon.
Rebecca Saunders, Urology Consultant, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Bio and photo coming soon.
Professor Celia Morgan, Professor of Psychopharmacology, University of Exeter
Bio and photo coming soon.
Ethypharm is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to providing products targeting the central nervous system (CNS) for patients who are suffering severe pain or opioid dependency as well as providing a wide range of high quality injectable medicines for use in hospital and emergency situations.
We use our considerable expertise and know-how to provide innovative solutions to healthcare providers and their patients.
In the UK we are recognised as a key partner of the NHS and the private hospital sector with a range of quality products.
- More to be announced soon.
Please note this information is taken https://www.swansea-arena.co.uk/visitors/getting-here
Address
Swansea Arena, Oystermouth Rd, Maritime Quarter, Bae Copr Bay, Swansea SA1 3BX
Arriving by car
Swansea Arena is easily accessible by car, with a number of car parks located close to the Arena.
Exit the M4 at Junction 47 if you are heading from the West (Carmarthen). Use Junction 42 if you are coming from the East (London/Cardiff)
Parking
Copr Bay South Multi Story
Operated by: Swansea Council
Average walk time: 1 minute
Cost: 4hrs £10, (£8 residents)
https://swansea.gov.uk/coprbaycarpark
St David’s Multi Story
Operated by: Swansea Council
Average walk time: 5 minutes
Cost: 4hrs £4, (£2 Blue Badge)
https://swansea.gov.uk/stdavidsmultistorey
NCP City Gates Multi Story
Operated by: NCP
Average walk time: 5 minutes
Cost: 4hrs: £8.75 (pre-booked)
https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park
Quadrant Multi Story
Operated by: Swansea Council
Average walk time: 5 minutes
Cost: 4hrs £4
https://swansea.gov.uk/quadrantmultistorey
Paxton Street Pay and Display
Operated by: Swansea Council
Average walk time: 5 minutes
Cost: 4hrs £4, (£2 Blue Badge)
https://swansea.gov.uk/paxtonstreetcarpark
Park & Ride – Landore & Fabian Way (not suitable for evening shows)
Operated by: Swansea Council
Average walk time: 5 minutes from drop-off point (Quadrant)
Cost: £1 car + 4 passengersOpen: 6.45am – 7.30pm, Monday – Saturday
https://swansea.gov.uk/landore
https://swansea.gov.uk/fabianway
Many other parking options can be seen on PARKOPEDIA
Important information:
- Copr Bay South (adjacent to the Arena), features 35 disabled spaces, whilst all other city centre car parks have Blue Badge parking spaces available.
- Nearby on-street parking is very limited.
- Swansea Arena / ATG do not manage any car parks. Queries, requests for information, or concerns relating to the Council operated car parks should be directed to them by pressing the Pay-Station/Exit Barrier’s CALL button, phoning 01792 480526 or emailing car.parks@swansea.gov.uk
- Please expect some delays during busy events when exiting the car park.
- For electric vehicles, five 22kW charge points are available in the adjacent Copr Bay South car park. For more information, visit clenergy.online.
Arriving by train
Swansea Arena is a 10-minute walk or 6-minute drive from Swansea Train Station.
Swansea is well served by high-speed Great Western Railway trains from London and frequent Transport for Wales trains run from West Wales, the Marches, the Midlands and the South-West.
Once you have arrived to the vicinity of the coastal park, please find further information regarding the most accessible means of entering the venue here.
Arriving by bus/ coach
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Swansea Arena is served by local bus routes coming from in and out of the City Centre. The nearest stop to the Arena is Swansea Bus Station, located in The Quadrant.
Left Luggage Storage is available until 17:00, Monday-Saturday in Swansea Mobility Hire, located within the Bus Station.
Once you have arrived to the vicinity of the coastal park, please find further information regarding the most accessible means of entering the venue here.
