Why is cocaine so desirable?

Cocaine has never been more popular in the UK. Over the last decade purity has increased, cost has dropped relative to income and availability has soared. It’s been estimated that consumption has jumped 290% in the past decade.

Cocaine has undergone an image change during this time. It’s no longer seen as a mark of status and wealth, and in some social groups cocaine use is seen as almost normal. Higher purity and availability are taking their toll – deaths and hospital admissions for cocaine are rising year on year.  But what makes cocaine so desirable?

Status

Cocaine used to be seen as a rich person’s drug or a celebrity substance – but that isn’t the case anymore. Police report that seized shipments of cocaine are getting much bigger and more commonplace, meaning more of it is entering the country than ever before. This increased supply is driving down prices and making it more accessible. Policy analysts are now saying that cocaine is no longer even a middle-class drug – it’s used across all classes of UK society.

Cocaine is more affordable than it has ever been. While the street cost of cocaine hasn’t fallen, it has remained stable for a long time, making it more affordable relative to income. It’s also much purer. While there used to be a two-tier system – low quality and cheap cocaine available at one price point, and higher purity available at a higher price point – purity and cost have stabilised, leading to a more consistent product available at a predictable price.

Cocaine is now the second-most consumed illicit drug after cannabis. As its popularity has increased and it’s become more available, cocaine has undergone an image change in the eyes of the people taking it. Rather than being seen as an unaffordable and dangerous luxury, it’s perceived as relatively normal, less risky, and an easy way to make a night out enjoyable.This isn’t the case – and the fact that it’s often consumed on nights out alongside alcohol creates additional risks.

Cocaine and alcohol

Cocaine is often taken with alcohol. This is unsurprising, as these two substances form a new psychoactive substance in the body called cocaethylene. This is the only known instance of two substances creating a brand new one in the body.

Cocaethylene mimics a lot of the effects of its parent drug but is more potent and long-lasting. Cocaine is a short-acting substance, and consuming it with alcohol is a way of obtaining more bang for the buck. Many people are aware that these substances seem to work together when they’re taken but are not aware that this is because it’s creating an entirely new substance.

Cocaethylene is under-researched, and public awareness is low. However, research shows that cocaethylene is much more cardiotoxic than cocaine alone, significantly increasing heart rate and blood pressure. This is dangerous as cocaine is already known to be very hard on the cardiovascular system.

Psychological appeal

Cocaine usage surged after the Covid lockdowns.This isn’t surprising – the pandemic caused a huge increase in social anxiety, with many people reporting that they felt they had ‘forgotten’ how to socialise and the enforced isolation had caused their anxiety to increase. It makes sense that a drug known for increasing confidence and lowering inhibitions became more popular after the lockdowns ended in 2022.

Cocaine works by blocking the brain’s dopamine transporters, which leads to an increase in free dopamine in the brain. It is believed that this mechanism is responsible for many of cocaine’s subjective effects – and for its addictive nature.

Cocaine is often used for socialising, like alcohol. Users report that it makes them feel euphoric, happy, more talkative, more confident, more awake, and like they’re at the top of their game’ – although this can spill over into arrogance, agitation and paranoia if consumed at high levels.

Cocaine can shore up a lack of confidence, and as it’s become easier to access, it can be tempting to reach for it when you’re feeling nervous or when you want to make socialising go more smoothly. But the more you do this, the higher the risk of feeling you need to have cocaine to be able to socialise and develop a dependence.

Addictive nature

You might think that cocaine dependence won’t happen to you if you’re not taking it every day – but that isn’t necessary to develop a dependence. Ease of access is putting more people at risk of cocaine addiction, and this can easily start by feeling the need to take it when you’re having a night out.

Signs of cocaine addiction include:

• A strong desire to take it regularly
• Developing a tolerance
• Finding it hard to stop taking it
• Pursuing cocaine over other interests and responsibilities
• Continued use despite knowing it’s harming you
• Withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop.

Eventually, cocaine can start to have negative effects on your life and the people around you. Cocaine abuse eventually leads to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you decide to stop – feeling tired, irritable and paranoid, insomnia, negative effects on your mental health and even suicidal ideation.These withdrawal symptoms interfere with your relationships, your finances, and your ability to meet responsibilities.

Staying away from cocaine after you decide to quit is made difficult by the fact that many of the long-term withdrawal symptoms mimic the things that people take cocaine to escape from in the first place. Withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, depression, low mood and difficulties with emotional regulation can linger after the acute withdrawal phase. This increases the desire to start using again to make these unpleasant symptoms stop.

If you’ve decided to stop taking cocaine and you’re struggling, we can help.

Talk to UKAT

We know that cocaine addiction is difficult to break – but it isn’t impossible. Beating cocaine addiction can mean more than just abstaining – it can mean looking at the underlying causes of addiction and treating them so you’re able to walk away for good.

Reach out today to start your journey.