Many Brits are likely to celebrate a white Christmas whatever the weather, as figures show Britain has the second highest cocaine use in the world.
One in forty adults in Britain use the Class A drug, which is more than any other country in Europe and behind only Australia globally.
Experts say the high use of the powder – known by the nickname 'snow' – is fueled by Britain's binge drinking culture, with many using the stimulant to counteract the sedative effects of alcohol.
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 found that 2.7 percent of adults in Britain use cocaine every year, with men more than twice as likely to use cocaine as women.
This compared to an international average of 1.2 percent and a high of 4.2 percent in Australia. Spain completes the top three.
Use in Columbia, the world's largest producer of narcotics, is 0.62 percent, while Indonesians are the least likely to use, with a rate of just 0.03 percent.
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 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.
In 2021, 840 people died in England and Wales due to cocaine, up from 112 deaths in 2011.
Meanwhile, the number of older people being treated for cocaine abuse in hospitals in England has risen sharply over 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 you can buy a reasonable amount of cocaine for £10 to £20, enough for a few lines on 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 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.”