Australians may not be enjoying a white Christmas in the traditional sense of the word, but many are likely to create their own version – as figures show the country has by far the highest cocaine use in the world.
One in 25 Australian adults (4.2 percent) use the powerful drug, putting the country well above the figure even among overseas manufacturing countries.
Experts say the high use of cocaine is fueled by a culture of excessive drinking, with many using the stimulant to counteract the sedative effects of alcohol.
The rising cost of alcoholic beverages in Australia and the falling cost of cocaine have also made the drug a relatively affordable alternative.
Once the preserve of high society, it is now widely used across all social classes as its price has fallen in real terms over the past decade and it can be delivered 'as fast as a pizza'.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has compiled a global ranking of cocaine use based on the most recent data from 36 countries.
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One in 40 adults in Britain use Class A drugs, which is more than any other country in Europe and only behind Australia globally
The research shows that men are more than twice as likely to be users than women.
Interestingly, while Australia tops the charts for cocaine use, Indonesia, the country's nearest neighbor, has the lowest rate of the countries included in the study, demonstrating just how tailor-made the importation efforts are.
The OECD report warns: 'Drug use is linked to, or complicates the response to, a wide range of today's most pressing health and social problems.
'These include mental health issues, self-harm, homelessness, youth crime and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.'
Separate data from the UK Office for National Statistics shows that the number of deaths involving cocaine has increased eightfold in the past decade, and for ten years in a row.
Meanwhile, the number of older people being treated in hospital for cocaine abuse has risen sharply in the past year, according to NHS data.
People over 60 – also known as 'silver sniffers' – were admitted 540 times. Among them were 85 people between the ages of 70 and 79, 11 in their 80s and three in their 90s.
Ian Hamilton, associate professor of addiction at the University of York, said cocaine has “more value than ever before” because its price has fallen relative to income but at the same time it has become increasingly powerful.
“In Britain, £10 to £20 ($19-38) can buy a reasonable amount of cocaine, enough for a few lines for a night out,” he said.
'That's the price of a cocktail, or a few pints.'
Mr Hamilton said Britain's drinking culture contributes to high cocaine use, with some 'never' going a night out without snorting a line.
He added: 'A lot of cocaine use is opportunistic; most people do not get cocaine through a dealer, but through a friend or acquaintance.
'Most people continue to function, have good jobs and relationships. Some people use it at work to increase concentration and energy.'
However, he warned that the added substance can cause heart and respiratory problems and called for a public health campaign to reduce its use.
Dr. Niall Cambell, the lead psychiatrist in addiction services at Priory Hospital Roehampton, said: 'Cocaine use is virtually an epidemic at the moment.
'It's everywhere, it's no longer a drug of the wealthy, everyone wants it. They all fuel the criminal empire.
'We talk to people at all levels of society. From those who have 'construction coke' on building sites, to people paying £5,000 ($9,000) a time for the pure stuff.
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'If you go to a football match at half-time, there's a line of young men going to the toilet to do cocaine.
'Alcohol is the number one reason for admission to our residential addiction unit, and cocaine and alcohol are the second reason.
'It's just a routine part of a night out. People drink a few beers and then call the dealer. It's as fast to get cocaine as it is to order a pizza.
'I have worked at the Priory for 23 years and since then cocaine use has increased.
'It has become more socially acceptable. At occasions such as Christmas parties, there is a kind of acceptance that people will sneak into the toilet to form a queue.'
Dr. Campbell said cocaine has “terrible effects” on physical and mental health, work and relationships.
He added: 'There are no NHS public health reports about cocaine. Treatments for drug addiction are hidden from view.
'We need more awareness about the harm of cocaine. The Government and the NHS need to recognize that we have a problem.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Our 10-year drugs strategy, backed by a record £3 billion of investment, is tackling the supply of illicit drugs while building a world-class treatment system for those who abuse drugs to end their lives. help change. .
“This is a whole-of-government strategy and we are committed to supporting people suffering under the grip of addiction and the vulnerable people exploited by gangs to fuel their violent trade.”