cocaine - search results

[…] blunt to just put it out there, but I had 3 failed attempts at ending my life. The route of these attempts was a severe addiction to cocaine. I had been using some form of stimulant from the age of 16 where I was supplied with vitamins as a professional rugby player. My game […]

[…] to the Crime and justice survey 2008-09on self-reported ‘last month, last year and lifetime’ use of drugs. Use of cannabis was declining, according to the survey, but cocaine use – after cannabis, the most commonly reported drug used in the month and year prior to the interview – had remained stable. The survey also […]

[…] the  ‘evil  dealers’  who  sell  them.  Since  cannabis  can unpredictably  send  you  mad  for  life,  I  can’t  see  why  it  is  any  less serious  than  heroin  or  cocaine.  But  if  the  authorities  have  been ‘freed up’, they haven’t taken much advantage of their freedom. Peter Hitchens,  Mail on Sunday, 3 September Here is just one small emblem of the ignorance or callousness of current  policy  making.  Yesterday’s  public  accounts  committee report warns of chaos in the new universal credit for families. In the  fantasy  realm  of  this  policy,  b0  per  […]

[…] also had a handy article a few days ago called ‘How to legalise every drug’. Here, Steve Rolles of Transform pops up to tell us that for cocaine, for example, a ‘licensed user pharmacy’ model would be the best option. Steve Rolles of Transform Drug Policy Foundation proposes a ‘licensed user pharmacy’ arrangement for […]

[…] a mean age of 29. Sixty per cent said they went clubbing at least four times a year. Of the 20,000 people who completed the section on cocaine use, less than 9 per cent reported using the drug on a weekly basis, but 65 per cent said they’d used it up to ten times […]

[…] from ‘brilliant’ to ‘reading this has ruined my day’.   JUNE EMCDDA’s annual European drug report identifies the UK as among the biggest consumers in a ‘buoyant’ cocaine market, with purity levels at their highest for a decade, while Kevin Flemen wonders in DDN if the recent growth in crack use indicates a move […]

[…] are invested in well-targeted activities of proven effectiveness.’ The report also highlights ‘an increasingly complex’ stimulant market with a ‘wide variety of powders and pills’, and where cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy increasingly compete with new synthetic drugs. These continue to be reported at the rate of around one per week, with more than 50 […]

[…] 40-49 age group. Although deaths from ‘most opioids’ have remained steady, fentanyl-related deaths have continued to rise – to 75, from 58 in 2016 – while deaths related to cocaine have now increased for six consecutive years. There were 432 cocaine-related deaths in 2017, up from 371 the previous year. The number of deaths related to […]

[…] The loss of expertise is one of the many things that bothers him. Gone are the days of specialist services for different substances. Everything – including alcohol, cocaine and stimulants, which would have had specific services a short time ago – is combined into the same service, which ‘can be a problem if people […]

[…] or barn, where a generator pumps electronic music. The larger parties can go on for three days as long as the police don’t come. Partygoers often use cocaine, MDMA, LSD or ketamine, with the combination of cocaine and ketamine (CK) becoming increasingly popular. The ketamine is snorted in quantities that vary from person to […]

[…] clearly the group most at risk of encountering fentanyls. However, they have cropped up in place of other products including benzodiazepines and stimulants such as MDMA or cocaine in the UK and Europe, and sold internationally mixed with crack cocaine. Becoming more widespread could impact not solely on heroin users, but people using any […]

[…] will not be sympathetic Scottish Government ministers, but sceptical European legal experts. Neil McKeganey, Scotsman, 7 September A mother who paid £300 for a dozen packets of cocaine as a birthday present for her daughter’s 18th has been spared jail. Nicola Austen, 37, with six previous drugs convictions, expected to be sent to prison […]

[…] The aim is to educate people to make their own choices, says the charity. ‘Substances that are taken in a predominantly recreational context, like novel psychoactive substances, cocaine, steroids and alcohol, place a heavy burden on the health system,’ said director of operations for substance misuse, Jay Stewart. ‘This new guide aims to provide […]

[…] taking their eye off the ball when it comes to steroids? ‘I don’t think so,’ he states. ‘I think the movement away from just opiates and crack cocaine to this much wider area encompassing both enhancement drugs and the novel psychoactives isn’t to the detriment of either. It’s important that we don’t take our […]

[…] likely to fail in treatment does the community  no favours whatsoever.’  14 |  drinkanddrugsnews | Februbry 2015 www.drinkbnddrugsnews.com ‘My point was  not whether we call addiction a ‘disease’ or a ‘disorder’ or an ‘anti-social behaviour’...  What does  worry me is the promotion by some of the idea that this is a problem which  is intrinsically incurable.’ In addition to illicit drugs such as cannabis,  cocaine and heroin etc, ‘hypnotic and addictive reinforced demand substances’ (which include the benzodiazepines, the ‘Z’ drugs, chloral drugs and derivatives, plus clomethiazole, and some of the anxiolytics and barbiturates) can have the same physical and psychological effects. And because they are dangerous, all of these are ‘prescription-only’ drugs, and thus a matter of physician specification rather than patient selection. Bearing in mind that for all the officially reported UK addicts on illicit substances, there are many more addicted to prescription drugs, paid for by the taxpayer. All of which makes prescription drug production and distribution a nice little earner. Elisabeth Reichert, school head,  East Sussex HiDDen menace I recently read in the national press that there has been a huge increase in the prescribing of gabapentin and […]

[…] first entered treatment at 19, the beginning of a long period of being ‘in and out’ of services, he says. ‘Once I started using heroin and crack cocaine it was initially a matter of me saying, “I can stop if I want to stop” but it soon became apparent that it wasn’t going to […]

[…] is this the age of the young puritan?’ asked the Guardian last month. ‘Why drugs are no longer cool: teenagers are internet addicts while their parents snort cocaine,’ offered the Telegraph. The Health and Social Care Information Centre’s latest figures on falling rates of drug and drink consumption among secondary school pupils (see news […]

[…] the UK Health Security Agency. And drug-poisoning deaths have hit the highest level in 30 years – fuelled by a 30 per cent rise in fatalities involving cocaine and the introduction of synthetic opioids such as nitazenes into the drug supply (DDN, November, page 4). For the London Borough of Hackney, an area with […]

[…] name is Bobby and I’m an addict. I’m 42, originally from East London, and I work as a recovery and dependency practitioner. After a 20-year battle with cocaine addiction, which ended with my using drugs every single day against my own will, I’m pleased to say that thanks to regularly attending 12-step meetings, getting […]

[…] Oregon’s drug policy attracted national and international attention Oregon’s landmark Measure 110, which was passed in November 2020, made the personal possession of all drugs including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine subject to no more than a $100 fine (https://www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/campaigners-hail-monumental-victory-for-us-drug-policy-reform/). However, new legislation has been signed off by the state’s governor, Tina Kotek, recriminalising drug […]

[…] sought help for cannabis as their main problem drug, and more than 4,700 for alcohol, while ‘historic low’ figures for young people needing help for heroin or cocaine – 175 and 245 respectively – were offset by increasing numbers having problems with amphetamines, mephedrone and other new psychoactive substances. ‘Young people’s alcohol and drug […]

[…] known as nitazenes, have adulterated a number of illicit drugs in the UK. It’s not clear exactly when this began, but evidence of them being present in cocaine and heroin was detected in 2021.   Nitazenes are broadly equipotent to the fentanyls – or in layman’s terms, they’re many times stronger than heroin and morphine. […]

[…] exemplified by the late Eva Rausing, from a billionaire family, who only received a caution in 2008 for the possession of 2.5g of heroin and 60g of cocaine. Avinash Tharoor, Independent, 2 October In many ways, alcohol is the new tobacco. It is a multibillion-dollar international industry dealing with market-friendly governments, enjoying virtually unrestricted […]

[…] in 2008-09.  Most young people are in treatment for problems with cannabis (89 per cent), followed by alcohol (41 per cent), ecstasy (12 per cent) and powder cocaine (9 per cent). Further analysis of data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities found that the amount spent on young people’s substance services […]

[…] a world-class treatment and recovery system Achieve a shift in demand for recreational drugs The strategy rightly recognises that half of people dependent on opiates and crack cocaine are not in treatment, and that drug addiction co-occurs with a range of health inequalities, especially mental health issues, homelessness, and deprivation. An additional investment of […]

[…] part of every relationship I had because I had no idea how to have a healthy open relationship,” Tina said. Eventually she started using heroin and crack cocaine. Decades later, now in recovery and working as a volunteer in her drug treatment service, Tina identifies being around other women as important to her journey. […]

[…] established drug and alcohol detoxification and residential rehabilitation centre located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The centre provides adult in-patient treatment for substance abuse and dependence including alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, heroin, opiates, legal highs and prescription drugs. Our therapy approach is focussed on helping you address your dependence on drugs or alcohol and empowering you […]

[…] series of online harm reduction advice, including on safer injecting, responding to an overdose, using naloxone correctly, and safer use of other drugs such powder and crack cocaine and steroids. It also offers advice to those worried about someone else’s drug use.  NSP services were ‘often the first step on the road to accessing […]

[…] at least once by the age of 17, according to research by UCL’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies, while 10 per cent have tried drugs such as MDMA, cocaine, LSD and amphetamines. More than half of 17-year-olds said they had engaged in binge drinking – defined as five or more drinks in one session – […]

[…] of all drugs for personal use. The state’s electorate voted ‘yes’ to Oregon Measure 110, which supports making ‘personal non-commercial possession of a controlled substance’ – including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine – subject to no more than a $100 fine, as well as establishing a treatment and recovery programme financed in part by revenue from the […]

[…] the drug problem in a ‘state of flux’.  Positive developments regarding more traditional drugs – such as fewer new heroin users, less injecting and declining use of cocaine and cannabis in some parts of the continent – continue to be offset by concerns around new psychoactive substances, says the agency’s annual report.  Seventy-three new […]

[…] the drug problem in a ‘state of flux’. Positive developments regarding more traditional drugs – such as fewer new heroin users, less injecting and declining use of cocaine and cannabis in some parts of the continent – continue to be offset by concerns around new psychoactive substances, says the agency’s annual report. Seventy-three new psychoactive […]

[…] magnitude of the offence’. Offences related to crack dealing, which has been largely confined to America’s black community, have historically attracted far more severe punishments than comparable crimes involving powder cocaine, and one in nine black children in the US now has an incarcerated parent, compared to one in 57 white children. More at globalgrind.com/endthewarondrugs

[…] not to mention the money spent trying in vain to control them. Drug barons are always one step ahead of the law. Those looking for heroin or cocaine can easily obtain it, at a price. But how would we prevent the ugly side effects of legalisation, particularly a likely increase in experimentation, paranoia and […]

[…] been calling for a reduction in the maximum permitted stake for years (DDN, September 2014, page 6), with the controversial terminals frequently referred to as the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’. The move relates to ‘category B2’ FOBT machines, which are mainly located in betting shops, and follows a consultation with the public and the […]

[…] the increased use of new psychoactive substances; however heroin is still a significant concern and tends to be used for longer periods than other drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine. Additionally, prisoners often present with dual diagnosis and polysubstance addiction, which amplify problems associated with their wellbeing and raise concerns for staff and prison […]

Acer’s inpatient detoxification and stabilisation service is for people who have a primary problem with: Opiate use, including methadone as well as heroin Stimulants such as crack cocaine Alcohol Polydrug use, relating to a combination of drugs and/or alcohol. The service admits adults (18-65 years) who have difficulty controlling or eliminating their drug or […]

[…] (DDN, September, page 4). Although the government is keen to stress that the figures come against a background of falling rates of overall drug use, deaths involving cocaine also reached an all time high at 320 – up from 247 the previous year. Deaths involving amphetamine also reached their highest-ever level, and those involving […]

[…] (DDN, September, page 4). Although the government is keen to stress that the figures come against a background of falling rates of overall drug use, deaths involving cocaine also reached an all time high at 320 – up from 247 the previous year. Deaths involving amphetamine also reached their highest-ever level, and those involving […]

[…] Szalavitz about her newly published thoughts on addiction. This is an extract from their conversation First Szalavitz described her own experiences, experimenting with psychedelics, then becoming addicted to cocaine and heroin. Johann Hari: ‘Usually when someone tells this publicly, they say “Society tells me what a disgusting wicked person I  was – and then I […]

[…] 10 September Stephen Fry, BBC favourite and darling of the new Establishment, noisily confesses in a rather sad and attention-seeking new book to possession and use of cocaine in Buckingham Palace. The official penalty for this offence is seven years in jail and an unlimited fine. Could there be better proof that the elite […]

[…] challenge was to ‘keep pace with this growing problem, while continuing to meet the demands of more established substance misuse problems associated with alcohol, heroin and crack cocaine’, said Owen Boden-Jones of CNWL’s club drug clinic. Report at www.rcpsych.ac.uk Hep feedback A global patient survey to reveal how hepatitis C is treated around the world […]

[…] it backed by well-funded advertising campaigns. Earlier this year there was a high-profile controversy around fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT) – frequently referred to as ‘the crack cocaine of gambling’ – installed in bookmakers, with MPs calling for a reduction in the maximum amount it was possible to gamble on them in one go, […]

[…] that had ‘an enormous problem with space for housing’, where local landlords were increasingly reluctant to take people on housing benefit.  The city had 2,000 heroin and cocaine users and although drug-related deaths were now falling, it had had the unenviable title of being ‘the drugs death capital of Britain’ for some time. ‘A […]

[…] to try drinking and a third thought it OK to try smoking, only 9 per cent thought it was OK to try cannabis and 2 per cent cocaine. The figures are based on a survey of more than 5,000 pupils in almost 200 schools across England. According to the 2012/13 Crime Survey for England […]

[…] tried), amyl nitrites or ‘poppers’ (35 per cent), amphetamines (33 per cent), LSD (28 per cent) and ecstasy (20 per cent). Only 6 per cent had tried cocaine and 0.6 per cent had tried heroin. Females were almost as likely as males to have tried an illicit drug by age 18, and there were […]

[…] is usually an expensive waste of time. But decriminalisation’s flaw is that it does nothing to undermine the criminal monopoly on the multi-billion-dollar drugs industry. The decriminalised cocaine consumed without criminal consequences in Portugal is still supplied by the gangs who cut off heads in Colombia. Only legalisation takes the business out of the […]

[…] not get into this dependency on opiates, because it’s such a long-term trap,’ she says. ‘Some of the stimulants and novel psychoactives have their own problems but – even with cocaine – they’re things that you can walk away from a bit more easily than an opiate habit. So I’m hoping that we won’t be seeing families affected […]

[…] a transit zone for drugs bound for Europe, it says, but a ‘significant zone of consumption and production’ in its own right. At an estimated $1.25bn, the scale of the cocaine trade alone ‘dwarfs the combined state budgets’ of many countries in the region, it adds, and while the region has a long history of cannabis production, mainly for local […]

[…] participants over a 35-year period, looking at whether medical cannabis reduced or effectively treated a range of mental health disorders, as well as substance use disorders including cocaine and opioids. The most common cannabinoid being evaluated was CBD, followed by THC or a combination of both. ‘We found cannabis medicines were no more effective […]

[…] February 2023 and December 2024 eight patients were admitted for whom ketamine was the primary drug of use, although some also reported using other substances including alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. The cohort included five women and three men, with reported ketamine consumption ranging from three to eight grams per day. The average length of […]

[…] out everyday tasks, and a 14 per cent reduction in quality of life. These percentages are ‘comparable to those experiencing the highest levels of harm driven by cocaine and alcohol use, as well as those with health conditions including depression and opiate dependence’, the researchers state. The ‘largest share of population harm’ comes from […]

[…] same period in 2024. Suspected drug deaths were also 18 per cent down on the previous quarter, with emergency department attendances seeing a 12 per cent fall. Cocaine remained the most frequently reported drug across treatment and toxicology data. ‘The changing profile of drugs contributes to a very high likelihood of sudden, localised spikes […]

[…] close’ to being met.  OCTOBER More bleak nitazenes news as the number of deaths involving them in England and Wales quadruples in a year, while deaths involving cocaine show their 13th consecutive increase – as the Border Force says it’s seized more of the drug in three months than in the whole of 2022-23. […]

[…] recruitment process, providing useful insights and guidance. By the end of October 2025, 494 individuals had used the service more than 8,236 times, with 5,500 injecting episodes. Cocaine had been used in 80 per cent of visits, so the number of medical emergencies (74) was lower than expected. ‘If it was heroin, we’d be […]