The Vivienne hid the struggle of ketamine “to protect the family”

The sister of James Lee Williams, better known as Vivienne, says that her family only learned the battle of Drag Perterne against Ketamine Addiction after watching Drag Race UK.

In an interview with BBC Newsnight, Chanel Williams, 35, says that James had kept the struggle – in particular being hospitalized because of the medication – a family secret “to protect them”.

The 32 -year -old man died in January, with the family Later announce the cause of death as cardiac arrest caused by taking ketamine.

Chanel says that her brother had “a very long period of sobriety” before relapting, something she says that the family only discovered after the death of James.

“A great thing for me now is: if I had asked the questions or wanted the signs, would the result be different?” she said.

The Vivienne was congratulated for having openly spoken of abuse of ketamine and the struggle to become sober while it appeared on Drag Race UK, which was broadcast in 2019.

Chanel now hopes to continue this heritage by campaigning to encourage people to speak openly about drug addiction.

She believes stigma around dependence and she The brother’s successful career on stage and televisionmeant James was not looking for professional help.

“He had spoken openly on Drag Race of battles he had had dependence, and he had passed on the other side,” she said.

“He was up to everything he did and I think that because he said in a platform so open, it is really difficult to come back and say that you have trouble again.”

Chanel says that she is concerned about the rise of young people who take ketamine, which she thinks in part because the drug is inexpensive and easily accessible.

James’ body was found in Chorlton-by-Backford near Chester on January 5.

Police confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and a post mortem examination revealed a “non -natural cause of death”.

A complete survey is scheduled for June 30. But in March, the family told BBC News that the star had died of a cardiac arrest caused by the effects of ketamine.

Since his announcement, they have worked with Adfeiad of the charity of drug addiction to raise awareness and fight against stigma around the drug, something that Chanel says is an “important step” in those who are confronted with dependence.

“It is difficult for me because I think that if this stigmatization was not there, would my brother have asked for the help he needed?” she said.

“Think that if we knew it, or if he would have felt capable of speaking and really looking for the help that was necessary, the result could have been different.

“This is why we shared the story of James.”

Chanel and his family also campaign so that the government reclassifies ketamine from its current class B drug status to class A, which would put it in the same category as heroin and cocaine.

“There are part of the young people who may look at this classification and think that it is less harmful than other drugs,” she said.

“But it is not only a question of reclassification (…) He must include education, police, health, to really raise awareness. We need a strategy concerning drug use and the death of drugs in the United Kingdom.”

The British government is currently asking for the advice of experts on the re-classification of ketamine, the Minister of Police Services, Dame Diana Johnson Rise among young people who take drugs.

A spokesperson for the home office said: “Our thoughts concern James’ family and friends, and all the people affected by this tragic death, who unfortunately reinforced the serious dangers to take the ketamine once again.

“We will not hesitate to act when the ACMD will report and, in the meantime, we will continue to work on health, the police and the wider public services to reduce the consumption of drugs and stop those who benefit from its supply.”

Chanel said it was difficult to share the information about how James had died, but that the family “had spoken of what we can do”.

“The Vivienne has left an inheritance like a pioneer icon and that, I think, is James’ heritage. To help others,” she said.

“If I can help a family not feel what we feel, then it’s worth it.”

You can see the full interview with Vivienne Chanel’s sister on BBC Newsnight at 10:30 am on BBC Two and BBC Iplayer.

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