Cocaine Use in the UK: The Rise, Statistics and Trends

Cocaine use in the UK remains a significant and complex public health issue. Household surveys suggest that self-reported cocaine use has remained relatively stable in recent years. However, other sources of data tell a different story. Wastewater analysis, NHS treatment figures and mortality data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) all point to cocaine use and its associated health harms remaining at historically high levels.

Mortality peak: 1,279 deaths involving cocaine were registered in England and Wales in 2024, marking a 14.4% increase in a single year and the 13th consecutive annual rise. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning-in-england-and-wales-2024-registrations

High consumption volume: Home Office wastewater analysis estimated that approximately 123,000 kg of cocaine was consumed in England between August 2024 and July 2025. Therefore, the estimated retail value of this consumption was approximately £9.8 billion.

Treatment demand: In 2024–25, 20% of adults starting drug and alcohol treatment in England reported problems with powder cocaine. This was the highest proportion recorded since reporting began.

Self-reported prevalence: The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that 2.1% of adults aged 16–59 used powder cocaine in the previous year. Among younger adults aged 16–24, the figure was 2.3%.

Measuring Prevalence: Self-Reports vs. Wastewater Analysis

Determining whether cocaine use is rising depends heavily on the measurement methodology used. By comparing self-reported survey data with objective wastewater testing, it is possible to build a more complete picture of cocaine use trends in the UK.

1. Household Survey Data (Crime Survey for England and Wales)

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) captures self-reported illicit drug use among the general population:

• Adults (Aged 16–59): In the year ending March 2025, approximately 2.1% reported using powder cocaine in the preceding 12 months.
• Young Adults (Aged 16–24): Prevalence was higher among younger demographics, at approximately 2,3%.

While survey data does not show a dramatic year-on-year increase, household self-reporting often underestimates actual drug use due to social desirability bias and non-response from high-frequency users.

2. Sewage Wastewater Analysis (Home Office Monitoring)

Wastewater testing analyses drug metabolic residues in sewage, providing an objective, non-reported estimate of total drug consumption:

• Estimated Annual Consumption: Home Office analysis estimated total cocaine consumption in England at approximately 123,000 kg between August 2024 and July 2025.
• Economic Scale: The estimated retail market value of this consumed volume reached approximately £9.8 billion.
• Trend Analysis: Continuous site monitoring revealed that cocaine consumption in early 2025 was higher than during the corresponding period in 2021, reflecting a sustained high baseline of UK consumption rather than a transient spike.

Cocaine-Related Mortality in the UK: 13 Consecutive Years of Increases

The rise in cocaine-related deaths is one of the clearest indicators of the growing health harms associated with cocaine use in England and Wales.

According to official ONS registrations, cocaine-involved deaths have risen for 13 consecutive years, standing more than eleven times higher in 2024 than in 2011.

Note: ONS figures include deaths where cocaine was recorded on the death certificate, whether consumed alone or alongside other substances such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2024-to-2025/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2024-to-2025-report

Addiction Treatment Demand

Data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) in England highlights how population consumption translates into clinical demand:

• Record service contact shows that between April 2024 and March 2025, 329,646 adults were in contact with structured drug and alcohol treatment services. Consequently, this represents a 6% increase compared with the previous year and the highest total ever recorded.
• Powder cocaine growth shows that 20% of all adults starting new treatment presentations reported powder cocaine as a primary or secondary problem substance—the highest percentage recorded since current tracking began.
• Crack cocaine: 19% of adults starting treatment in 2024–25 reported problems with crack cocaine, representing 32,399 people.
• Crack-cocaine treatment information

Key Factors Driving UK Cocaine Consumption

Statistical analysis points to several structural drivers behind the sustained levels of cocaine use across the UK:

• High Supply & Street Availability: Widespread distribution networks across UK urban and rural areas have made cocaine readily accessible across diverse socio-economic groups.
• Social Normalisation: Powder cocaine is increasingly integrated into recreational nightlife, social drinking, and weekend entertainment.
• Concurrent Alcohol Use (Cocaethylene Risk): A substantial proportion of users combine cocaine with alcohol. This dual consumption forms cocaethylene in the body—a compound with higher cardiovascular toxicity that strongly reinforces psychological habit loops and craving patterns.