Row as UK named cocaine capital

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A report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) shows that, for the fifth year running, the UK has recorded the highest number of cocaine users in the EU.

The annual figures show that 7.7% of Britons aged 15-64 have taken cocaine - rising to 11.2% for the 15-24 age group and 12.7% for the those aged between 15 and 34. In each category Spain is second (7%, 8.7% and 9.6% respectively) and Ireland fourth (5.3%, 7% and 8.2%).

Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, commented: "This report confirms Britain's status as the cocaine capital of Europe, not to mention the fact we also have the highest prevalence of amphetamine and ecstasy use amongst adults. It is particularly disturbing that we have the highest proportion of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds using cocaine - the Government's failure is betraying a whole generation of young people.

"This is due to Labour's chaotic, confused and staggeringly complacent approach to drugs. Drugs wreck lives, destroy communities and fuel crime - the fact Labour do not recognise this make them part of the problem, not the solution."

The survey says that 12 million EU citizens aged 15-64 admit to having taken cocaine at some time in their lives, while 11 million have used amphetamines and 9.5 million have used ecstasy.

Cannabis use is much higher - 71 million Europeans say they have tried it - about one in four citizens.

In the UK 30.1% of the 15-64 age group say they have used cannabis, exceeded only by France (30.6%) and Denmark (36.5%). Amongst 15-34 year-olds the rate is higher - 41.4% in the UK compared with 43% in France and 49.5% in Denmark.

The Home Office later welcomed the fact that the report concludes that drug use in the UK is stabilising, with numbers using cannabis and heroin actually falling. A Home Office spokesman said: "Home Office figures published last week show overall drug use in the UK is at an all time low and the number of seizures is up 15% on the last annual statistics.

"Alongside this, new figures ... show the number of problem drug users has remained stable. We continue to focus our efforts on reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs through tough enforcement, education and treatment."