Cocaine and substance abuse on the rise

Weekend cocaine and stimulant misuse is an increasing problem across Wigan, experts say. But many users refuse to acknowledge they have a problem even after their habit has landed them in court.

Elaine Jones, Drug Rehabilitation Requirement Order Concentrator for Wigan Probation Service, says that over recent months a growing number of stimulant users have been handed DRRs by the courts.

These community orders are designed to help people reduce, or even stop, their drug use and to lessen the impact it has on them and the community as a whole.

However, many stimulant users – the group includes cocaine, ecstasy, speed and the liquid chemical GHB – do not think of themselves as drug users, or addicts, in the traditional sense.

Ms Jones said: “You will find that there are an awful lot of users where drugs and alcohol run side-by-side and one of the more common offences coming through now is where stimulants are combined with alcohol which results in fights at the weekend.

“They don’t see themselves as drug users, it is recreational, they don’t understand that their behaviour is no different to, that of someone who uses drugs seven days a week.”

National figures suggest that cocaine use is increasing, with the most recent government figures showing the drug was mentioned on 235 people’s death certificates in 2008, up from 196 the previous year.

But stimulant use is a problem which Wigan’s drug misuse experts are aware of and are addressing.

Wigan Council’s Drug and Alcohol Manager Pat Keane said: “There is evidence to suggest that the use of powder cocaine is increasing nationally and in Wigan.

Treatment services are available for stimulant users and these have been improved over the last 12 months to respond to this trend.

“The use of cocaine can seriously affect health and is particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol.”