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| Steep rise in Europe cocaine use | Steep rise in Europe cocaine use |
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| An annual report on drug use says around 4.5 million Europeans are likely to have used cocaine in the past year - a million more than in 2006. | An annual report on drug use says around 4.5 million Europeans are likely to have used cocaine in the past year - a million more than in 2006. |
| The EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) says the increase in cocaine seizures and quantities also confirms its status as "Europe's stimulant drug of choice". | The EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) says the increase in cocaine seizures and quantities also confirms its status as "Europe's stimulant drug of choice". |
| Prevalence of the drug is highest in Spain and the UK but the biggest increases are in Denmark and Italy. | Prevalence of the drug is highest in Spain and the UK but the biggest increases are in Denmark and Italy. |
| About two million Europeans are said to have used cocaine in the past month. | About two million Europeans are said to have used cocaine in the past month. |
| The drugs agency bases its figures on information covering 2005. In that year, it says that seizures of cocaine reached record levels. A total of 107 tons of the drug was recovered - up more than 45% on the previous year. | The drugs agency bases its figures on information covering 2005. In that year, it says that seizures of cocaine reached record levels. A total of 107 tons of the drug was recovered - up more than 45% on the previous year. |
| Spain and Portugal are the main points of entry into Europe. | Spain and Portugal are the main points of entry into Europe. |
| Impact on health | Impact on health |
| The EU drugs agency says the rise in demand for treatment is an indication of how cocaine use is affecting public health. | The EU drugs agency says the rise in demand for treatment is an indication of how cocaine use is affecting public health. |
| EU countries' data on recorded drugs offences indexed to a base of 100 in the year 2000, then weighted to reflect varying population sizes | EU countries' data on recorded drugs offences indexed to a base of 100 in the year 2000, then weighted to reflect varying population sizes |
| It says that in 2005, 22% of all new requests for help were cocaine-related, almost three times the figure for 1999. | It says that in 2005, 22% of all new requests for help were cocaine-related, almost three times the figure for 1999. |
| Spain and the Netherlands had the majority of reports of treatment. About 400 deaths relating to cocaine were reported in 2005. | |
| The agency says current systems make it difficult to detect the health consequences. | The agency says current systems make it difficult to detect the health consequences. |
| There has also been a steep rise in the offences linked to cocaine. Across the EU, the agency reports an average 62% increase with Germany the only exception. | There has also been a steep rise in the offences linked to cocaine. Across the EU, the agency reports an average 62% increase with Germany the only exception. |
| The majority of crime is concerned with drug use or possession. | The majority of crime is concerned with drug use or possession. |
| Cannabis is still the most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, but the agency says there are signs of its popularity waning among the young. | Cannabis is still the most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, but the agency says there are signs of its popularity waning among the young. |
| In Spain, 20% of 15-34 year-olds are estimated to have used the drug in the past year, with similarly high rates in the Czech Republic (19.3%), France (16.7%), Italy (16.5%) and the UK (16.3%). | In Spain, 20% of 15-34 year-olds are estimated to have used the drug in the past year, with similarly high rates in the Czech Republic (19.3%), France (16.7%), Italy (16.5%) and the UK (16.3%). |
| Drug related crime has fallen by a fifth since 2003, reducing harm to communities, while drug use is at its lowest level in 11 years Vernon Coaker UK Home Office minister Read the full report [701k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | Drug related crime has fallen by a fifth since 2003, reducing harm to communities, while drug use is at its lowest level in 11 years Vernon Coaker UK Home Office minister Read the full report [701k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| In the UK, France and the Czech Republic, that represents a fall of three to four percentage points. | In the UK, France and the Czech Republic, that represents a fall of three to four percentage points. |
| The UK Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, welcomed the report. | The UK Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, welcomed the report. |
| He said that drug use as a whole was "at its lowest level in 11 years" and that drug-related crime had "fallen by a fifth since 2003, reducing harm to communities". | He said that drug use as a whole was "at its lowest level in 11 years" and that drug-related crime had "fallen by a fifth since 2003, reducing harm to communities". |
| Nevertheless, the agency warns that some 7% (23 million) Europeans have taken cannabis in the past year and about three million people may be using it on a daily, or almost-daily, basis. | Nevertheless, the agency warns that some 7% (23 million) Europeans have taken cannabis in the past year and about three million people may be using it on a daily, or almost-daily, basis. |