France is grappling with a sharp rise in cocaine use, with a new study revealing that 1.1 million people used the illegal drug at least once in 2023.
This marks a nearly doubled rate of consumption compared to previous years. The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) had estimated just 600,000 users in 2022, highlighting the dramatic surge in cocaine use across the country. As a result, French authorities are ramping up efforts to tackle drug-related crime and trafficking.
A range of factors is driving the spike in cocaine consumption, including unprecedented levels of global cocaine production and shifting perceptions of the drug. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia produced a total of 2,700 tonnes of cocaine in 2022, a significant increase from 1,134 tonnes in 2010.
“The evolution of working conditions” has also contributed to the growing usage, as individuals turn to cocaine to cope with stressful work environments, particularly in sectors like catering and fishing, explained Ivana Obradovic, deputy director at OFDT. “Finally, experts point to the ‘diversification of forms of consumption,'” she said.
The spread of crack cocaine and the perception of the drug as “less dangerous” compared to two decades ago has further fueled its popularity. Cocaine, derived from the leaves of the coca plant in South America, is increasingly viewed as a more accessible stimulant. Despite prices remaining stable — a gram of cocaine costing 66 euros in 2023, compared to 60 euros in 2011 — the purity of the drug has risen sharply, reaching 73% in 2023 compared to just 46% in 2011.
French authorities are taking decisive action against the surge in cocaine-related crime. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has pledged to intensify the battle against drug-related offenses. The French government seized a record 23.5 tonnes of cocaine in 2023, a sharp increase from 4.1 tonnes in 2010. In the first 11 months of 2024, authorities have already seized nearly 47 tonnes.
