A new report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says the UK has the largest number of cocaine users in Europe.  This is the sixth time in seven years that Britain has been rated in this spot.

Statistics show that 15% of 18-34 year olds admit to having used the drug.  In addition, 6.2% admit to have taken cocaine in the last year.

Part of the reason for the increase in usage is a result of cost.  Cocaine is no longer expensive to buy and isn’t associated with the elite. Purchasing the drug can cost the same as drinking alcohol therefore is now more accessible than ever.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) have published their quarterly newsletter Drugnet  Europe 70 (May 2010).  This issue includes the following:  record number of new drugs in 2009; EMCDDA and ECDC assess anthrax outbreak among heroin users; global audit of HIV services for IDUs reveals low levels of provision; sharing information on drug treatment demand in the Mediterranean; drug use and pregnancy — challenges for public health; latest analysis of cocaine market highlights ’secondary extraction’ laboratories in Europe.

Read more now.

Europe’s drug agency, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, reveals in its 2009 report that the majority of online retailers identified (115) in its annual study were based in the UK at 37%.  Following the UK are Germany (15%), Netherlands (14%) and Romania (7%).