Cocaine is 'misguidedly seen as a clean drug' warns charity

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Home » News » Drugs » Cocaine is 'misguidedly seen as a clean drug' warns charity

by Change | 10 Jun 2009

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The physical and mental harm that cocaine can cause, particularly when mixed with alcohol, is often unknown, DrugScope has warned.

Young people often underestimate the potential harm of cocaine, according to drug addiction advice from the chief executive of a leading drug information charity.

The drug is often seen as a clean drug and the effects that it can have on physical and mental health are not fully known, the chief executive warned.

His comments follow the release of figures by the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for BBC Radio 1, which showed a marked increase in the number of 19 to 24 year olds being treated for cocaine.

According to the NTA, this increase reflects patterns of drug use.

DrugScope chief executive Martin Barnes commented: "There has been the price of cocaine falling steadily over the last ten years or so, so it has become more affordable. It's no longer seen as exclusively a drug for the rich and famous."

Mr Barnes also warned that there is evidence that young people are mixing cocaine with alcohol, which increases the level of harm by creating a new composite drug in the body.

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