It’s something that the in-crowd and the rich and famous love to do. It makes you feel confident and sexy. Previously only people with plenty of money to spare could afford it and it was hard to get hold of. It’s something you're warned against doing by teachers, parents, older peers and the media.  It's something that you thought only reckless or hopeless people and drug addicts dared to do. But things have changed, now anyone with a bit of cash in their pocket can easily get hold of this highly addictive and dangerous drug. It has many names, coke, Charlie, C, white, Percy, snow, toot, all add to the glamorous illusion that it purveys.

If you’re aged between 18-40 the chances are you are highly likely to encounter cocaine in some form. You may know a friend who does it or you might be offered it at a party. For most it’s a mixture of peer pressure, curiosity and a lack of knowledge about its hugely damaging effects that causes them to try cocaine. Most people don’t really think about what it is made of what it does to your body and the penalty in your country for getting caught doing it (which ranges from 7-10 years imprisonment in the majority of European countries).

Cocaine related deaths are rising

Tom, a 24 year old fitness fanatic and PE teacher from the UK regularly takes cocaine. He defends it by explaining that he only does one or two lines before going out then he doesn’t have anymore and that he doesn’t need to do it to have a good time, he just wants too. He doesn’t think a little coke every now and then can do much harm to his body.

It’s a view that is held by thousands of people in the UK, where taking cocaine has almost become as common as binge-drinking on a Friday or Saturday night. In fact, cocaine usage in the UK is the highest in Europe, despite the fact that cocaine related death rates have risen by 50% in the past two years. The rest of Europe is surely not far behind.

The Myths

Like Tom, many people deny that they are addicted to cocaine even though they use it regularly. A common myth is that you’re not an addict if you don’t use cocaine every day. This is incorrect because it is the denial of needing the drug that is the problem more than how often it is taken. Another common myth is that cocaine isn’t addictive. However, cocaine is highly addictive because of the strong cravings it produces as the user becomes addicted to the feel-good factor it gives. A tolerance is built up every time it’s taken meaning that a larger amount is needed each time to achieve the same ‘high’ feeling.

More women than ever are using Cocaine

Somehow, along the way cocaine has become known as a glamorous drug, one which does no harm if only taken every now and then (which actually translates as every big night out for many users). Women, it seems are particularly drawn to cocaine, recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice in the UK show that the number of women caught in possession of cocaine is 5 times more than in 2002. Perhaps it’s not so surprising given that many beautiful, young, models, actors and actresses including Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton have been revealed as cocaine users and they are all alive and well now. However, cocaine is a very dangerous drug, yes it makes you feel happy, alert, energetic and confidant but its bad qualities far outweigh these positive qualities and the risks to your health are huge.

1 in 4 of all heart attacks in people under 40 are caused by cocaine

First of all there are the negative qualities to your personality, cocaine users experience nervousness, paranoia (thinking others are talking about you), depression, anxiety, panic attacks, become arrogant and argumentative and often aggressive.

Secondly there are the physical affects experienced when taking cocaine; sweating a lot, grinding your teeth and looking pale (although the buzz you experience when on cocaine makes you think you look gorgeous). Regular use of cocaine also burns your nose away causing regular nose bleeds and leaving a gaping hole between the nostrils. As cocaine is an anesthetic, addicts can’t feel this happening.

Thirdly are the many unpleasant, dangerous and sometimes fatal physiological effects including severe chest pains, high blood pressure and heart disease. Because cocaine is an anesthetic, just one line can trigger a shut-down in your body causing a stroke or heart attack. One in four of all heart attacks in people under 40 are caused by cocaine. It is also possible to get hepatitis c (an infectious disease which negatively affects the liver) as blood and mucas are transferred when snorting coke through bank-notes and straws.

Alcohol plus Cocaine = a deadly cocktail

An even more dangerous habit is mixing cocaine with alcohol. Cocaine plus alcohol causes a toxic reaction which can prove lethal. David Smallwood, an addiction treatment manager at the North London Priory even believes that ‘snorting cocaine is more dangerous than injecting heroin, yet it’s seen as being almost on the same level as smoking a cigarette’.

To summarize, the ugly truth of cocaine addiction is anything but glamorous.