BRIGHTON 'IS UK'S COCAINE HOT SPOT'

Cocaine use is on the increase, the survey suggests Brighton is the UK's
hot spot for cocaine use, a survey suggests.

As much as 86% of the city's population of young people is said to have
tried the drug.

But the survey, carried out across 10 UK cities, also indicates the use of
cocaine is becoming much more prevalent everywhere.

The research was carried out by the Face magazine among 1,000 people aged
between 16 and 25.

The findings suggested attitudes towards the Class A drug among people
Brighton also gave the most cause for concern.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they believed that cocaine was less
dangerous than ecstasy.

Face editor Johnny Davis said that the rise in the use of cocaine, which in
the past had been regarded as a "glamour" drug taken mainly by celebrities,
was partly due to its wider availability and falling cost.

The ever-growing "public face" of the drug fueled by celebrity confessions
has also been cited as a reason for the increase.

'Teenage Abusers'

Mr Davis said: "The cocaine survey was conducted following a recent
government report's findings that Brits were the worst teenage abusers of
drink, cigarettes and drugs in Europe."

Cocaine is sold in grams, and the survey showed that the cheapest gram
could be bought in London for as little as UKP 10.

The most expensive gram was priced at UKP 100 and found in Leeds.

Frazer McEwen, director of services for Addaction in Brighton, said he was
not surprised by the findings.

Addaction is a national organisation which provides a range of community
and prison-based drug and alcohol services.

'Anxiety And Paranoia'

Mr McEwen said: "Drug use in Brighton is significant on many levels but as
far as the issue of cocaine and crack cocaine are concerned it's very
difficult to monitor.

"There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that the use of cocaine is on the
rise but because of the nature of the drug itself people do not present to
drug services unless they are in crisis."

Mr McEwen said it was important that potential cocaine users were aware of
the implications of taking the drug.

He said: "People use the drug socially and recreationally but there can be
problems associated with its long-term use, such as anxiety and paranoia.

"Many people take the drug because it allows them to stay up longer, drink
more and not sleep. But the drug speeds up the heart rate and the long-term
effects of this should be considered."