A recent study has revealed that over 1.1 million people in France consumed cocaine at least once in 2023, signaling a sharp rise in drug use. This alarming trend has prompted French authorities to propose tougher measures against traffickers and drug-related crimes.
Cocaine consumption in France has nearly doubled since 2022 when the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) reported an estimated 600,000 users. The country now ranks seventh in Europe for cocaine use.
Key Factors Behind the Surge
The rise in cocaine use is attributed to multiple factors:
- Global Production Peaks: Cocaine production reached record levels in 2022, with Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia—top producers—cultivating 2,700 tonnes, a dramatic increase from 1,134 tonnes in 2010.
- Workplace Pressures: According to Ivana Obradovic, deputy director at OFDT, cocaine use is often linked to coping mechanisms for high-stress jobs, such as in the catering and fishing industries.
- Evolving Drug Perceptions: Crack cocaine is becoming more prevalent, and the drug is now perceived as less dangerous than it was two decades ago, further driving demand.
Purity and Price Trends
Although cocaine prices have remained stable—66 euros per gram in 2023 compared to 60 euros in 2011—the drug’s purity has surged. Testing revealed a purity increase from 46% in 2011 to 73% in 2023.
Law Enforcement’s Response
Drug-related crime continues to disrupt daily life across France. In 2023, authorities seized 23.5 tonnes of cocaine, a significant jump from 4.1 tonnes in 2010. By November 2024, seizures had nearly doubled to 47 tonnes. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has committed to ramping up efforts to combat the drug trade.
15 January 2025
