Cocaine: Occasional users on the rise

THERE has been a significant rise in cocaine use in recent years, a leading population survey is expected to reveal today.

The rise in the number of people experimenting with the drug, while not entirely surprising, will bolster calls for government action to tackle the growing problem.

The 2006/2007 Drug Prevalence Survey, commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, is a five-year follow-on report to the first population survey in 2002/2003.

The lifetime figure for cocaine — which includes every person who has taken cocaine at some stage, including just once — is expected to show a significant rise.

However, it is understood there has been no significant change in the number of people who reported taking cocaine within the plast year or within the past month.

This may come as a surprise given the level of publicity surrounding cocaine, driven in part by sharp rises in cocaine seizures and cocaine-related deaths, including that of model Katy French.

The findings reflect a continuing rise in the number of people experimenting or dabbling with cocaine, rather than any significant rise in the number of people using it regularly.

But the general rise will be of concern from a health point of view, as experimental and occasional users are susceptible to adverse reactions, even death.

The survey results will be launched today by Drugs Strategy Minister Pat Carey. It is a joint venture with the authorities in the North, where a separate survey was carried out.

It is understood the survey, which covers the 15-64 age group, is expected to show a rise in lifetime usage for a number of drugs, not just cocaine.

The committee and Mr Carey are increasingly concerned about polydrug, or multiple, drug use, including the combination of cocaine and alcohol.

They are expected to argue that a rise in lifetime usage is not unexpected and reflects a trend across Europe.

Experts believe the lifetime rate will follow the US trend, which has a longer history of drug usage, and stabilise in time.

The advisory body will argue that recent usage figures are more important statistics in relation to drugs.

What will be of particular interest is whether there is a levelling off or drop in the number of new drug users.

The 2003 survey found 19% of 15-64-year-olds had a lifetime prevalence of drug use, dropping to 6% and 3% for last year and last month respectively. The figure for cocaine was 3% (lifetime), 1% (last year) and 0.3% (last month).

Meanwhile, a new UN report shows that international cocaine traffickers are exploiting the chaotic security situation along the west African coast to bring in massive quantities of the drug into Europe.