Britain’s cocaine market has expanded significantly in recent years, according to Home Office analysis released in June this year. Wastewater sampling from sewage systems indicated that consumption rose 26% between 2021 and 2025, with an estimated 123,000kg consumed during 2024-25. This volume translates to approximately 2.5bn individual doses valued at roughly £9.8bn on the street market.
The expansion does not necessarily reflect a surge in new users. Crime survey data suggests the number of people reporting cocaine use in the past year has remained relatively stable or declined slightly since the pandemic. Instead, available evidence points to existing users increasing their consumption frequency. The market has also experienced significant price fluctuations. Wholesale prices dropped to historically low levels in 2025, with street prices falling to approximately £700 per ounce by August 2025. However, prices have risen sharply in recent months, reaching around £950 by September this year, marking an unusually rapid increase.
A notable demographic shift has accompanied these market changes. While younger people remain the most likely users, consumption is declining among youth and increasing among older age groups. Treatment admissions for cocaine problems rose 57% between 2019-20 and 2024-25, with people in their 30s now representing the largest group seeking help compared to those in their 20s a decade earlier. This pattern reflects cohorts of users aging while continuing their consumption.
The public health consequences have become increasingly severe. Cocaine-related deaths in England and Wales reached record levels, with more than half of deaths last year involving individuals over 40. Police forces recorded nearly 30,000 crimes mentioning cocaine in 2025, with 18% classified as violent crimes. Additionally, nearly six in 10 drug tests conducted on domestic abuse suspects between July 2025 and June this year tested positive for cocaine.
Experts attribute the rising death toll to multiple factors including the aging user population, sustained high purity levels in available cocaine, and increased consumption frequency. Specialists note that an independent report last year identified the UK’s lack of coordinated drug prevention strategy as a contributing factor, highlighting that earlier intervention and education could reduce long-term harms.
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