Britain’s Cocaine Market Reaches Billions As Use And Treatment Demand Surge

LONDON — Britain’s annual cocaine market has reached an estimated £9.8bn, driven by high consumption levels and fluctuating wholesale pricing, according to government data and independent analysis.

Home Office experimental sewage estimates indicate that cocaine use in England rose by 26% between 2021 and 2025. During the 2024–25 period, Home Office scientists estimated that consumers in England used 123,000 kilograms of the drug, equating to roughly 2.5 billion lines.

The figures highlight a widespread normalisation of cocaine across modern Britain, with the substance appearing extensively in environments ranging from pub restrooms to sports stadiums. While official crime surveys suggest that self-reported past-year cocaine use has remained flat or declined slightly since the pandemic, experts note that such surveys often omit homeless populations and institutional residents, while respondents frequently underreport illegal drug habits.

Market dynamics have shifted significantly over recent years. According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), wholesale cocaine prices dropped below pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and hit historic lows in 2025, though indicators pointed toward rising wholesale costs in 2026. Researcher Dr Josh Torrance tracked advertised ounce prices, noting a decline from approximately £1,300 in March 2022 to about £700 in September 2025, followed by a rebound to £1,000 in July 2026 before easing to about £950 by September.

The expanding market has coincided with a record number of fatalities across England and Wales. More than half of the cocaine-related deaths registered last year involved individuals over the age of 40, reflecting an aging cohort of users who continue consuming the drug.

Treatment services have seen a corresponding surge in demand. In England, 33,612 individuals entered treatment programmes for cocaine-related issues during 2024–25, representing a 57% increase compared to 2019–20 figures. Recent data indicates that Millennials in their 30s now constitute the largest demographic seeking assistance, shifting from a younger cohort of users in their 20s a decade prior.

Law enforcement and public safety metrics also reflect the broader societal impact. Figures compiled by the Guardian from 39 police forces show that recorded crimes mentioning cocaine rose by 10% since 2019, with authorities logging nearly 30,000 such offences in 2025. Furthermore, Home Office data indicates that nearly six in 10 police drug tests administered to individuals arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse tested positive for cocaine between July 2025 and June 2026.