Why are mums turning to coke?

As it becomes ever more accessible, there’s been a surge in the use of cocaine in recent years – including among mothers. Mum-of-five Jordan, 40, recently admitted to using it following her split from husband Kieran Hayler. Meanwhile, Kerry Katona, also a

ipping out T a small bit of cocaine onto the loo seat, Rose* straightens it into a neat line with a credit card, rolls up a £10 note and inhales it, waiting for the rush to hit. It’s a scene played out the world over – but Rose is in the loos at her daughter’s school for a fundraising evening, and is about to mingle with teachers and fellow parents.

Rose, 45, from Manchester, is an otherwise responsible mum of two daughters aged 11 and eight, but she still indulges in the class A drug up to three times a week, enjoying the escapism she gets from it.

DANGEROUS

Rose, who works in publishing, explains, “I’ve been dabbling with coke on and off for years. I gave up completely during my pregnancies and in the first six months afterwards. But I like the feeling of rebellion, hence doing it at my daughter’s school. I don’t overindulge, and can often go months without it.”

It’s not hard for Rose to get hold of the deadly drug – she usually has it within just 20 minutes of making a phone call. Recent research by the Global Drugs Survey showed that you can get cocaine delivered to your door quicker than a takeaway pizza – leading to rising violence on our streets, as well as the countries it’s produced in.

Rose normally puts in her order and pops out on her lunch break to pick up from a man on a motorbike. The exchange is so quick, she isn’t worried about anyone seeing. But while Rose may feel she’s in control, she has friends who have had to give up the drug because it’s left them feeling low and out of control. And a spokesman for drug charity Addaction says, “Cocaine was named in more deaths this year than ever before – an increase from 371 in 2016 to 432 in 2017 – and powder cocaine is also now the second most commonly used drug by 16 to 59 year olds. People need to understand the risks, as it’s highly addictive.”

Despite being aware of the dangers of the killer drug, which can be made with cement and even battery acid, Rose has no intention of giving up her habit. She believes it gives her a break from the routine of her life. She says, “I was always a party girl and I don’t see why being a mother should stop that. I am careful – though I’ve had one slip-up. I was at a friend’s house party and I had put my daughters to bed in the spare room. But the next day my eldest daughter asked why my friend and I kept going to the toilet together. When she’s older she might realise what I was up to and it makes me cringe to think about it. I’m not sure yet whether I’d lie if she confronted me. I’d rather she didn’t do drugs, I don’t want my children doing anything detrimental to their health.”

Professor Adam Winstock, Founder of the Global Drugs Survey, explains, “There’s a lot of pressure on mums these days – they feel that they have to have a good job, keep a house running and look after the children. In the past five years cocaine has had a resurgence as the drug of choice and it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s an increase in mothers using it – especially if they did it prior to having children and know it ‘works’ for them.”

OUT OF CONTROL

Celeb mums including Jordan and Kerry Katona have admitted to taking cocaine in the past to help them in difficult times. For other mothers, the drug helps them get through daily tasks. Faced with a huge pile of ironing, mum-of-four Emily*, 39, often

❛I WAS ALWAYS A PARTY GIRL AND DON’T SEE WHY BEING A MOTHER SHOULD STOP THAT❜

takes a few lines of cocaine. Shockingly, Emily, a former GP from London who now teaches medical students, says she regularly indulges to get through her routine household chores after a busy day at work – and has no plans to stop.

She says, “I have a really busy life and sometimes it feels as if there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all in. I come home exhausted, have to make dinner, finish lecture planning and then still have to tidy up the house. Mundane tasks become enjoyable when I’ve had some. I don’t take lots, just a few lines to keep me going. I probably end up taking two grams a week, which costs up to £160.”

Professor Winstock says, “There are people like Emily who use cocaine functionally, to keep going. There’s an element of denial that she ‘needs’ it. But she doesn’t, she needs to reorganise her life.”

For Samantha*, who has a five-year-old daughter, cocaine has been a crutch for her since she split up with her child’s father in February this year.

The 24 year old, from Brighton, explains, “I was very upset as he’d been cheating on me and I felt extremely depressed and anxious. I’d taken coke a few times before I had my daughter and remembered that it helped me feel good. At the beginning, I was taking it virtually every night, but my family often look after my daughter for me, or she stays with her father. I’d never have her with me if I didn’t feel capable. I’ve been judged a lot by my friends, and it makes me feel terrible, but they haven’t been through what I have, so shouldn’t judge. I’m far from proud of myself. I’ve now got a job and trying to wean myself off it.”

Professor Winstock advises caution to mums using the drug, saying, “The earlier you recognise things might be getting out of control, the earlier you can get help. If you feel you’ve got a problem, it’s vital to seek advice. Keep drugs and your parental responsibilities separate. For some people it can become a blurred line – and that can place your children at risk.”