Cocaine Use in Europe Rising

(Brussels, Belgium) According to a report issued yesterday, cocaine use by Europeans has increased dramatically and more users are seeking treatment.

An estimated 4.5 million Europeans are likely to have used cocaine in the last year -- up from 3.5 million a year ago -- while seizures of the drug have soared by almost half over 12 months.

Almost a quarter of demands for treatment among Europeans who use illicit drugs do so for problems caused by the white powder.

Four hundred cocaine-related deaths were recorded in 2005.

"The new data confirms cocaine's place as Europe's stimulant drug of choice and as its second most commonly used illicit drug after cannabis," the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said.

The coke enters Europe primarily through Spain and Portugal from South America, sometimes via West Africa. Drug seizures have increased significantly in Spain and Portugal even while the street price has dropped. A gram currently sells for about 60 euros, half of what it used to be.