Cocaine addiction statistics can be an effective way to understand the scope of the problem across the UK.
It’s also important to learn as much as you can about this drug including the potential side effects, risk of death and the process of cocaine rehab.
We’ve put together a guide to understanding cocaine as well as a list of cocaine addiction statistics in the UK, so continue reading to learn more.
Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that is primarily used recreationally for its euphoric and energising effects.
It is most commonly seen as a white powder that can be snorted, leading to a quick and intense high that lasts for a short amount of time.
Cocaine has been used as a stimulant for thousands of years, starting from the ancient tribes of South America chewing the leaves of the coca plant for energy.
It was used as a painkiller in the early 1900s, but in recent years scientists have realised how powerfully addictive and destructive cocaine is.
Cocaine is a Class A drug in the UK, making it illegal to use, possess, sell or manufacture it.
Cocaine is very quickly transported to the brain when it is snorted through the nose.
Here it binds to dopamine receptors in the brain, blocking dopamine from being removed. As more and more dopamine builds up, this causes the intense high that is associated with cocaine use. [1]
This build-up of dopamine can also cause a number of side effects including an increased heart rate, a higher temperature, constricted blood vessels, muscle twitches and uncontrollable tremors.
If cocaine is smoked, it can take effect even more quickly but the intense high will last for a very short time.
The main danger of cocaine is the risk of sudden heart failure due to the above effects. This can be fatal, even for someone who is only using cocaine for the first time.
The pleasurable sensation that comes from using cocaine is also highly addictive.
Cocaine is highly addictive and can have a devastating effect on your physical, mental and emotional health.
This is because cocaine stimulates the brain to produce unnaturally large amounts of dopamine, while simultaneously preventing this dopamine from leaving the brain.
These actions result in a euphoric high and feelings of pleasure, which the brain naturally wants to experience again and again. It will then drive you to seek out this sensation as much as possible.
Cocaine also kicks in quickly and leaves your system just as fast, meaning that many people end up using it multiple times in a 24-hour period.
The comedown after using cocaine can be extremely unpleasant, involving crippling feelings of anxiety and depression. As a result, many people seek to avoid this comedown by continuing to use cocaine.
Due to the highly addictive properties of cocaine as well as its dangerous effects, it is recommended that you avoid this drug at all costs.
The short but intense highs of cocaine can become addictive, and many people find themselves with a physical and/or psychological dependency on this drug.
As cocaine is often used recreationally, it can be hard to know when casual use has become an addiction.
But as cocaine is so addictive that even those who use it just a handful of times can develop a dependency, the rates of addiction are likely higher than many people imagine.
Common signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction include:
It can take a while before you are able to spot the above signs in yourself or someone else, as addiction can be so secretive and hidden.
You may be worried about a friend or family member and their relationship with cocaine.
Perhaps you have noticed the signs of addiction in their behaviour, or feel that they are increasingly reliant on this stimulant.
It can be difficult if your loved one refuses to seek help or even acknowledge that they have an addiction. This can cause you to feel helpless, but there are steps that you can take.
Holding an intervention alongside other close friends and family members can be an effective way to show your concern and encourage your loved one to seek help.
A professional interventionist or counsellor can lend their services to the intervention, managing the meeting to ensure it goes as smoothly and effectively as possible.
Each person will be able to share their worries and concerns and ask her loved one to seek help.
Alternatively, you may wish to speak to your loved one privately about your concerns.
Come prepared with specific examples of concerning behaviours as well as information about rehab clinics and treatment programmes that may be able to help.
Your loved one may react to this in a number of ways including sadness, anger, frustration and acceptance.
Make sure you know how you will react in any potential situation and always ensure that your safety is the main priority.
Some of the cocaine addiction statistics listed below are shocking, and show the extent of the problem that is sweeping across the UK.
Cocaine addiction statistics in the UK
You can avoid becoming one of these statistics by educating yourself on the dangers of cocaine use and steering clear of this drug.
You may be familiar with cocaine after seeing it in TV shows or films, but many people know very little about crack cocaine.
This is when cocaine is mixed with water and baking soda and then heated up, before being broken into small pieces also known as rocks.
Crack cocaine is commonly smoked through a pipe and is extremely addictive. The high is much more intense than regular cocaine, although it doesn’t last as long.
So where does the name ‘crack’ come from?
When crack cocaine is heated and smoked it makes a crackling sound, which earned it the name ‘crack cocaine.’
Just like cocaine, crack cocaine is classified as a Class A drug and is illegal in the UK.
A cheaper version of cocaine, crack cocaine is extremely dangerous due to its addictive properties and high risk of overdose.
Cocaine is illegal in all forms across the UK and is never prescribed for medical use.
It is classified as a Class A drug, meaning that it carries the highest possible sentencing for drug penalties. [4]
If you are caught in possession of cocaine, you could face up to 7 years in prison depending on how much cocaine you are carrying and any previous charges against you.
Even if the cocaine is not yours, you will still be charged with possession.
If you are found guilty of selling, supplying or manufacturing cocaine, you could be looking at the possibility of life in prison.
If you are under 18, the police are legally allowed to inform your parent or guardian that you have been caught possessing, supplying or manufacturing cocaine.
Being charged with a cocaine crime will lead to a mark on your record, which could potentially prevent you from travelling to some countries or being employed in certain types of work.
As cocaine is often used at parties and other social situations, it can be difficult to know when casual use has become an addiction.
Perhaps your use of cocaine has started to bleed over into your daily life, or you find that you continue to use cocaine frequently to avoid the comedown.
It is important to get a professional diagnosis if you believe you may have a cocaine addiction, as this drug is particularly dangerous when used long-term.
Cocaine is a stimulant that speeds up your cardiovascular system, including your heart, at an often dangerous rate.
As a result, it is possible to die from using cocaine.
The most common reason for a cocaine death is an overdose, which occurs when you take more cocaine than your body can handle.
Some studies show that you are 23 times more likely to suffer a heart attack if you use cocaine.
Cocaine also increases your chance of suffering from a blood clot and stroke and can cause seizures even in people who have never had a seizure before.
You may believe that you are safe if you have never used cocaine before, but cocaine can kill even if you are using it for the first time.
Cocaine is often cut with other substances that can increase its effects, and there is no way of knowing what your bag of cocaine could be laced with.
If someone takes too much cocaine, combines cocaine with another drug or takes a batch of cocaine laced with other substances, they are at high risk of an overdose.
You can also overdose on cocaine even if you have never used it before.
It’s important to know the signs of a cocaine overdose, both in yourself and someone else. This can ensure that medical help is sought as quickly as possible, giving the affected person a greater chance of recovery.
If you have spotted the above signs in yourself or someone else, call emergency services straight away.
They will need to know which substances have been taken as well as the approximate amounts and whether different substances have been mixed together.
Don’t worry about getting into trouble – the medical team are primarily interested in saving lives.
It’s common for people who use cocaine to associate this drug with social situations including parties, clubs and raves.
They are likely seeking the energised and confidence-boosting rush that cocaine can provide, but this substance also comes with many short and long-term effects that can be extremely damaging to your physical and mental health.
Being the life of the party isn’t worth the devastating effects of cocaine, particularly if you develop an addiction or suffer a fatal overdose.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a cocaine addiction, it’s important that you get help as soon as possible.
If left untreated the addiction is likely to worsen, and the risk of dangerous side effects or even death is higher.
You will need to attend a cocaine rehab clinic or an outpatient treatment programme to safely and effectively recover from a cocaine addiction.
This will involve an initial assessment, a supervised detox, professional addiction counselling and finally aftercare once you have completed your treatment.
You will need to stop using cocaine as soon as possible when you enter rehab, but this must be done in a safe and medically supervised way.
It is generally considered safe to stop using cocaine cold turkey, without any gradual weaning. However, you must do this under medical supervision.
Detoxing from cocaine can be an extremely unpleasant process, but it can be helpful to remember that it is temporary.
A cocaine detox will usually take up to 10 days to complete, but some people experience withdrawal symptoms for several months after treatment.
When you detox from cocaine, your body must quickly learn how to function without the drug in your system.
This chemical rebalancing can result in various withdrawal symptoms.
Even if you go through a slow and gradual detox, you are still likely to experience withdrawal symptoms.
In general, the longer you have been using cocaine and the higher your dosage, the more intense your withdrawal symptoms may be.
Counselling is a crucial part of the addiction treatment process, as this can be very effective at treating the psychological aspects.
Cocaine can quite literally change the structure of your brain, and only time can fully heal this.
However, cocaine counselling can help you to deal with cravings and build a healthier lifestyle.
There are various different types of cocaine counselling including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), group therapy, family therapy and alternative therapies.
It is often recommended that you try out several different forms of therapy treatments before committing to the one that best suits your needs.
[1] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
[4] https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
