Young Britons lead cocaine shame league

YOUNG adults in Britain are the leading cocaine users in their age group across Europe, a report has found.

It said that the level of illicit drug use suggested availability had hit unprecedented levels across the continent.

More than 5 per cent of UK 15 to 34year-olds reported taking cocaine in 2018. The equal second highest proportion was in Denmark and the Netherlands, where 3.9 per cent of young adults admitted using the drug.

Alexis Goosdeel of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said: ‘We must be concerned that as the economic repercussions of the Covid crisis take effect, some in our communities may become more vulnerable to drug problems.’

Cocaine seizures in the EU have reached record levels, with more than 110,000 reported in 2018. Police took 181 tons of the drug off the streets – 40 more than in the previous year. The volume of heroin seized nearly doubled.

Mr Goosdeel said drugs gangs had proven to be ‘extremely resilient’ during the pandemic, turning to social media, parcel and home delivery.