UK tops European drug league table

[starlight07]

UK tops European cocaine league table

Levels of cocaine abuse in UK outstrips those in the US, says EU report which also points to 30 new variants of 'legal highs'

A renewed popularity in cocaine use among young adults over the past year has put the UK at the top of the European "league table" for cocaine use and now even outstrips the levels seen in the US, according to the annual report of the EU's drug agency, published today.

Twenty-four new psychoactives were officially notified to the EU's drug agency and Europol, the European law enforcement agency, last year – the largest number in a single year and double the number in 2008. And this year, so far, 31 new substances have been notified, mainly "designer drugs", such as Spice, which imitates the effect of cannabis, and mephedrone, similar to ecstasy.

The latest figures reported to the Lisbon-based agency show that a sharp rise in the popularity of cocaine may be taking place in the UK. Nearly 15% of all 18 to 34-year-olds reported having tried the drug at least once.

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/10/uk-tops-cocaine-abuse-league-table

[Spellbound454]

Its nearly as cheap as cannabis thats why...and the market if flooded with it.
We have a lot of disaffected youngsters with no hope for a future who use it to block out the misery.

[isa]

I’m not sure that cocaine is a drug many take to block out misery. One often sees this kind of specious reasoning given by well-meaning liberals when confronted with brazen drug-use - there always has to be some darker background story, some malevolent influence; it doesn’t often occur to them that a lot of people use drugs simply because they enjoy them.

[starlight07]

Illegal drugs are expensive I would have thought.

[starlight07]

Trends on prices of drugs:



Cannabis Resin – A price of £10 per eighth is still the going rate for Soap-bar resin, with a range of £5-£15, but more £15 reports than £5 for the first time since 2003. Other varieties (e.g. Asian Black, Flat Press) are typically £15-£20 per eighth, with higher prices still for high-quality ‘Pollen’ and ‘Charas’, and ‘Skuff’ when available.

Herbal Cannabis - An eighth of ‘Skunk’ would now cost between £20 and £25, rather than between £15 and £25 a couple of years ago. Homegrown (whole plant or leaf only) prices, where available, range from ‘free’ to around £20 an eighth (very cheap in bulk), and an eighth of Imported Bush would typically cost £10, £15 or £20 depending on quality and local factors.



Crack Cocaine rock prices have fluctuated wildly over the years but are now at a historic low, however prices reflect smaller deals, such that a £20 rock would typically weigh 150-250mg whereas a £10 rock would weight 80-150mg. Purities are at an all time low, gone are the days when a rock of crack would be 80% plus pure. Purities as low as 20% have been found in street samples.

link - www.idmu.co.uk/prices.htm

As the price of illegal drugs increase, so does the incentive to sell them. In turn drug related violence/crime also increases.

[isa]

It’s a rather simplistic rendering, Star, and somewhat misleading. Some prices have gone down as quality has been reduced, some have gone up. A drop in quality tends to mean an increase in profit, though it does not necessarily mean an increase at the point of sale, which is what drug users are generally concerned with. Further, some prices are incremented or decremented coherently though the chain of supply, others are chosen arbitrarily or at perceived market value.

[starlight07]

I understand the fluctuations Astronaut but if something is illegal then it's valuable at the same time - to many people - dealers and users alike - Government too. Making it legal will reduce its value and that too not only in the price. Btw, did you know that we were blessed with such similar headlines back in 2006?

[isa]

Value is not decided by legality, Star, it is decided by the forces of supply and demand. Legality may affect supply and demand but it is just one of many factors. I agree that they should be made legal but perhaps for different reasons. Yes I do recall those headlines - journalists play the drugs card whenever there’s an otherwise quiet week.

[starlight07]

I agree that they should be made legal but perhaps for different reasons.

Which reasons then, Astro? I think our reasoning/s may just be quite the same.

How I take it here is that if drugs became legal then they're not as 'valuable' to the drug dealers - they are something common and acceptable within the society. Legalising drugs reduces crimes and saves the taxpayers' money too.

I understand that illegality doesn't necessarily imply valuableness but it can in some cases - especially when law and order are involved.

Because I've never taken drugs of any class or entered the field, I will not share the same passion as yourself for having a pro-stance or why they should be legalised. I would apply logics here than emotions to the entire situation. I don't know which stance it is that you personally take for the legalisation of drugs or which factors have more importance to you.

[isa]

How I take it here is that if drugs became legal then they're not as 'valuable' to the drug dealers - they are something common and acceptable within the society

They will as valuable as ever to ‘the drug dealers’, Star, it is just that who the drug dealers are will have changed.

Yes, reducing crime is one, which means the police would be able to focus on real crime, thus making more efficient use of taxpayers’ money. Further to this is regulation of the trade, meaning a massive reduction in harm for users. Consequences of this will be further savings to the taxpayer via less NHS treatment being necessary - for instance the vast majority of hospital time required by heroin users is for the effects of toxic additives, not for the heroin itself. Another huge benefit would be the taxation of legalised drugs. Above all this comes concerns for personal liberty.

It’s inevitable that drugs will be legalised - the lure of capitalising on such a huge market will be too much to bear for even the staunchest conservative in the end; the only question is how much more damage needs to be done before the fools come to their senses.

[starlight07]

It’s inevitable that drugs will be legalised - the lure of capitalising on such a huge market will be too much to bear for even the staunchest conservative in the end; the only question is how much more damage needs to be done before the fools come to their senses.

It's actually common sense for politicians to look at the records or stats (maybe history too). What have been the effects of prohibition in the society? Take it from there. The fact that nothing has been done so far means something is quite sinister. Alcohol isn't prohibited then why are class A drugs illegal?