Cocaine Use in France Nearly Doubles in 2023, Reaching 1.1 Million Users

A government report links the rise to workplace pressures, increased global production, and shifting perceptions of the drug's dangers.

France now ranks seventh in Europe for cocaine consumption, with 1.1 million people using the drug at least once in 2023, up from 600,000 in 2022.
Factors driving the rise include record global cocaine production, which reached 2,700 tonnes in 2022, and increased drug purity, now at 73%.
Changing workplace conditions, particularly in industries like catering and fishing, have led to more employees using cocaine to manage stress and demanding schedules.
Cocaine's image has shifted, with the drug increasingly perceived as less dangerous and its use spreading to younger and more socially integrated demographics.
French authorities have ramped up drug seizures, confiscating 23.5 tonnes of cocaine in 2023 and nearly 47 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2024.