Cocaine consumption rises in England

The British Home Office reports a 26 percent increase in cocaine use across England since 2021. Wastewater analysis suggests that between 2024 and 2025, approximately 123,000 kilograms of cocaine were consumed, with an estimated value of nearly £10 billion. Experts attribute the rise to historically low prices and high purity levels.

Crime statistics show a corresponding increase in drug-related offenses. In 2025, police recorded at least 29,922 cocaine-related crimes, equivalent to 63.4 cases per 100,000 people, up from 57.7 cases per 100,000 in 2019. Projections suggest this rate could rise to 64 cases per 100,000 by 2026.

Organized crime expert Martin Galaher noted that cocaine consumption is increasingly moving from the social elite to the middle class. Additionally, data indicates a link to domestic violence; nearly 60 percent of police drug tests conducted on individuals arrested for suspected domestic abuse returned positive for cocaine between July 2025 and June of this year.