Cocaine in Britain: Prevalence, Problems, and Treatment Responses

Abstract

Cocaine now occupies an established place in the British illicit drug scene. The available data point to London and several other metropolitan areas as core centers of the problem. Smokable cocaine (crack) represents a notable and worrying new feature of cocaine use in the 1990s. There remain substantial gaps in knowledge about the natural history of cocaine problems in Britain. This review addresses the prevalence and problems associated with cocaine in Britain and includes a brief summary of the effects of the drug and the development and distribution of illicit cocaine products in Britain. Following discussion of the prevalence of cocaine use and associated problems, the orientation of existing services toward cocaine users is described and future challenges for responding effectively to cocaine users in need of treatment services are identified.