Cocaine is now the second most popular illicit drug in France, behind cannabis.
- Using cannabis, cocaine or MDMA (ecstasy) can trigger health problems.
- In 2023, half of French adults have already experimented with cannabis, which remains the most widely consumed illicit drug in France and whose use (10.8% over the last 12 months) has remained stable for ten years.
- Experimentation and use of stimulants such as cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) are on the rise in our territory.
The French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT) recently unveiled the first results of his investigation conducted last year on psychotropic drugs.
Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit drug in France
“The last figures on this issue date back to 2017,” specifies the OFDT in a press release. “This edition of Trends describes current levels of consumption of illicit drugs, as well as poppers and nitrous oxide, among adults in mainland France. The changes in the French population over the last six years are also presented”, he says.
In 2023, half of French adults have already experimented with cannabis, which remains the most widely consumed illicit drug in France and whose use (10.8% over the last 12 months) has remained stable for ten years. “Even if young adults remain the most concerned, it is in this age group that consumption levels are decreasing while they are increasing among older people,” comments the observatory.
Sharp rise in cocaine and MDMA (or ecstasy) consumption
In addition, experimentation and use of stimulants is on the rise. With 2.7% of users in the year (compared to 1.6% in 2017), cocaine is now the second most consumed illicit drug in France. As for MDMA/ecstasy, its experimentation has also increased significantly between 2017 and 2023 (from 5% to 8.2%) and its current use has doubled (from 1% to 1.8%).
“The increase in cocaine use calls for great vigilance and can be explained by various factors that are added together,” explains Guillaume Airagnes, director of the OFDT. “These factors include greater availability of the product, a decrease in the perception of the dangerousness of cocaine and a diversification of motivations to consume, such as trying to cope with difficult working conditions,” he explains.
Cannabis, cocaine, MDMA (or ecstasy): what are the effects on health?
Cocaine use can lead to many serious complications, including death: neurological, cardiological, vascular, respiratory, psychiatric, infectious, dermatological, ENT disorders, etc. “The risk of dependence and the somatic effects associated with taking cocaine can appear from the first dose or even for occasional use” indicates the MILDECA (interministerial mission to combat drugs and addictive behavior).
Regarding cannabis, studies show its impact on health in several areas: road accidents, certain cancers, certain pathologies of the circulatory or respiratory system and certain mental illnesses.
Finally, there are many effects more or less serious adverse events linked to the taking MDMA/ecstasy such as: jaw contraction, the dehydration, vomiting, convulsions, hallucinations, dependency and the cardiovascular disorders (which may lead to stroke).
