Woman, 26, Who Spent Five Months In Japanese Prison After Trying To Order Ketamine Opens Up About What Life Behind Bars Was Really Like

A 26-year-old woman who ended up in a Japanese prison after trying to buy ketamine has now shared what the experience was really like, and her story is not what many people would expect.

Izabel Rose, who is from Britain, attempted to purchase $200 worth of ketamine while staying in Tokyo. The order was sent through the mail, but customs officials in Japan intercepted the package before it reached her.

Authorities detained her at the hotel where she was staying, and she was later transferred to a detention center in Osaka. She remained there for five months while she waited for her case to go to trial, unsure of what her future would look like.

Many people would likely describe time in a foreign prison as frightening or traumatic, but Izabel, who goes by Izzy, says the experience had a different impact on her.

She has spoken openly about her long battle with drug addiction and explained that her time behind bars forced her to slow down and reflect. In her own words, it became a turning point in her life.

She said: "It was healing. I needed that time away from my surroundings. I needed the kick up the bum. I had to face the consequences of my actions and I am really glad that I did."

Izzy spent five months in a Japanese prison SWNS

Before traveling to Japan, Izzy had been struggling with her addiction while living in London. She believed that leaving her usual environment and spending time in Tokyo might help her reset and gain some control over her habits, but once she arrived, she began to experience withdrawal symptoms.

She continued: "It became very normalised to me. I wasn't aware that I was an addict, I just thought it was what everyone did."

"I knew I was on a dark path, and I didn't want to be in London because I would continue using ketamine."

"Obviously addiction doesn't understand geography so as soon as I landed in Japan, I was on the phone to my friend looking for drugs."

At one point, a friend suggested that she arrange for ketamine to be delivered to a hotel she was planning to stay at in Osaka. The plan did not go as expected, as Japanese customs officers intercepted the parcel before she could receive it.

Izzy prepared herself for a long prison sentence and believed she could face more than two years behind bars under Japan’s strict drug laws. After her trial, however, the court handed her a four-year suspended sentence, which allowed her to return to the UK and reunite with her family.

Izzy says her time inside helped her heal SWNS

Reflecting on daily life inside the detention center, Izzy shared how the experience affected her both mentally and physically. She said: "It was very isolating. I describe it as the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me, but the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"I had never known discipline, structure, and routine like it. They rip all humanity from you. I didn't see sunlight and I had no fresh air."

"I really did feel like I was an outsider. I was very privileged, so going into that environment was a shock to the system."

Since her release in September 2025, Izzy has admitted that adjusting back to normal life has not been easy. She has found support groups helpful in staying on track, and she now speaks openly about the need for better awareness around substance abuse and its impact.

She continued: "I want to see what we can do in this country to help people like myself. We are facing a crisis here in the UK. This is worse than the heroin epidemic and we need more education around it."

"Addiction does not care who you are. It can creep up on you and it is not something to be ashamed about at all. It is something we should have open conversations about."