Surge in cocaine use in UK

A government advisory committee are to review the effects of cocaine, after new NHS figures have shown a dramatic rise in the number of young people using the drug.

In a letter to the home secretary, Professor Les Iversen who chairs the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs described the five-fold increase in cocaine use amongst 16-59 year olds since 1996 as "deeply concerning."

According to British Crime Survey figures, the biggest rise occurred in 16-24 year olds with 6.6% using the drug last year compared with 1.3% in 1996.

Analysis of seized samples of cocaine have also shown the drug to be decreasing in purity - now at 15.5% - as more cutting agents are being used, making it even more of a health risk to users.

The professor also added that he hoped the review would "counteract the increasingly common misapprehension that cocaine is a relatively safe drug."

The news comes as an NHS report published yesterday showed that growing numbers of young people, including teenagers are being treated for cocaine addiction.

Figures published by the National Treatment Agency showed that the number of 18-24 year olds being treated for cocaine addiction have more than doubled since 2005

However, the biggest was seen in the under-18 age group. Last year 745 were treated compared with 453 in 2005, a rise of over 60%.

This article was published on Tue 2 March 2010