A group of researchers at Substance abuse charity, Addaction, has found, that cocaine use in the UK is much greater than previously thought.
Nearly 80% of the drug users admitted using marijuana, while 70% accepted that they consumed cocaine and crack cocaine.
Addaction accumulated this data through a survey of 8,500 drug users in Scotland, targeting them with social media advertisements. They shared their findings exclusively with Sky News.
Notably, 90% of the respondents are employed, or engaged in full-time education, falling in the age-group of
Figures suggest that though an average of 7 in 10 users regularly use cocaine, only 14% end up seeking help from healthcare professionals or charity organizations.
This is reportedly the largest survey of its kind in Scotland or the rest of the UK and the report authors believe that these results would be more-or-less replicated throughout the UK.
“Cocaine is generally seen as a party drug, has a stigma attached with it, is widely used and still nobody is talking about it,” said Andrew Horne, Director of Addaction, Scotland. “Even to this day, people think that cocaine is a middle-aged dinner party, middle-class drug, but the results of the survey show it’s everywhere.”
The study interestingly comes in the week PM candidate Michael Gove was criticized for previous cocaine use, and frontrunner Boris Johnson refused to deny consuming the Class A drug.
Even Author and columnist Bryony Gordon knows what havoc cocaine addiction can wreak on a person, as she has herself been a victim of it. “My addiction to cocaine crept up on me while I was busy with a hectic social life. Cocaine destroys lives; it makes one inherently risky.”
To years ago, Addaction launched a free online chat service for drug addicts and the charity was surprised to see the number of cocaine addicts reaching out for help.
Since cocaine is considered more of a party drug, many users don’t see it as a problem – this mindset is what makes people a victim of this not-so-openly-discussed substance.
