How cocaine conquered the UK: in pubs, festivals and workplaces the drug has become an everyday habit
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>Previously considered a middle-class drug, price drops have made cocaine more widely available, and created a new set of problems</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/24/cocaine-linked-crimes-on-the-rise-in-britain-as-consumption-surges">Cocaine-linked crimes on the rise in Britain as consumption surges</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/23/deaths-cocaine-crime-survey-england-wales">Ageing users and record deaths – the data behind Britain’s £9.8bn-a-year cocaine habit</a></p></li></ul><p>Lisa* is watching Scissor Sisters at a festival in the Lake District, a can of cider in hand, dancing along to the music on a sunny afternoon.</p><p>The 30-year-old has a few days off from her job as a veterinary nurse in Gateshead, where she lives with her fiance. She loves going to festivals, especially as “I love meeting new people,” she says.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/oct/25/how-cocaine-conquered-the-uk-inside-britains-pubs-festivals-and-workplaces-the-drug-has-become-an-everyday-habit">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Previously considered a middle-class drug, price drops have made cocaine more widely available, and created a new set of problemsCocaine-linked crimes on the rise in Britain as consumption surgesAgeing users and record deaths – the data behind Britain’s £9.8bn-a-year cocaine habitLisa* is watching Scissor Sisters at a festival in the Lake District, a can of cider in hand, dancing along to the music on a sunny afternoon.The 30-year-old has a few days off from her job as a veterinary nurse in Gateshead, where she lives with her fiance. She loves going to festivals, especially as “I love meeting new people,” she says. Continue reading...
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