A recent analysis published by The Guardian and authored by Libby Brooks examined the rise of cocaine use in Britain, as well as its links to crime and domestic abuse. Moreover, the article revealed that the spike in cocaine consumption in recent years has also coincided with an increase in related crimes, record numbers of deaths and domestic abuse.
Reports of open cocaine use at football matches, political rallies and festivals prompted Guardian journalist Robyn Vinter to investigate its wider social impact. “It was one of those journalistic hunches: what’s it like to be in a relationship with somebody who is taking a lot of cocaine?” she said. Working with data journalist Michael Goodier, she found that police-recorded crimes mentioning cocaine had risen by 10% since 2019, while Home Office wastewater analysis indicated a 26% increase in consumption at monitored sites in England since 2021. Their investigation also highlighted concerns about domestic abuse, with nearly six in 10 drug tests administered to people arrested on suspicion of such offences returning positive results for cocaine between July 2025 and June 2026.
Furthermore, the investigation also found the links between cocaine use and crimes including assault and dangerous driving, with domestic abuse specialists explaining that the drug can increase an existing offender’s likelihood of acting on harmful impulses. Home Office figures showed that nearly six in 10 drug tests carried out on people arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse were positive for cocaine between July 2025 and June 2026.
Vinter noted that falling cocaine prices appeared to contribute to its growing use, although reporting on pricing data gathered from online dealers required care to protect sources. Despite the drug’s increasing normalisation, she reported struggling to find people willing to discuss their use openly, with some festivalgoers mistaking her for a police officer. She conducted all interviews anonymously to help sources speak candidly while providing readers with relevant information.
The analysis concluded that cocaine’s illegal status can discourage people from seeking help and leave pub managers reluctant to discuss drug-related violence for fear of losing their licences. Moreover, the investigation found that people in their 30s were the largest group seeking help for problematic cocaine use, while experts called for greater investment in early drug education and addiction services amid record deaths.
