Good news the UK leads the world...in cocaine use

It seems that the UK leads the western world in cocaine use (or should that be misuse?).

It's reported that the drug is as cheap as £1.50 per line in some areas and in Manchester 4 out of 5 clubbers are said to have used it.

Cocaine is a stimulant (it was once part of CocaCola, hence the name) and suppresses appetite. It acts to stop the re-uptake of serotonin and dopamine in the brain to give that euphoric feeling.

So what's the problem?

It is addictive, especially in crack-cocaine form and this tends to lead towards increased use and with it, the need for more money to pay for it. Excessive use can also lead to a racing heart, hallucinations and paranoia.

But perhaps the biggest problem of all is that the supply of cocaine is through illegal channels where the product can be tampered with and the money spent on the drug is effectively exported.

In Portugal drug use has been reduced by decriminalising major drugs. It should be a useful model to follow in the UK since the policing approach appears to have failed but no politician in the UK appears to have the courage to promote this as an idea.

In many ways alcohol use is far more damaging to the individual and the country but adopting a licensing approach to cocaine use is not being promoted by any of the major political parties at present.