COCAINE NOW KING

Epidemic fuels wave of crime

COCAINE use has reached epidemic proportions among injecting drug users,
leading to an increase in crime and the spread of the HIV virus which
causes AIDS, a new study has found.

The Sun-Herald, in a special investigation, has obtained research by the
NSW Health Department which shows cocaine now rivals heroin as the street
drug of choice.

A study of 60 users in Kings Cross confirmed that cocaine had made the
alarming transition from a drug snorted by yuppies to being mixed with
water and injected widely by addicts.

Titled the Okey Doke Project ("okey doke" is slang for cocaine), it was
conducted by the NSW Government-funded Kirketon Road Centre.

The study found 50 of the users surveyed said they had hepatitis C and the
same number said they had been jailed nine times each on average. Heavy use
of the drug can also lead to nasal bleeding, psychosis and heart and lung
failure.

The survey confirms the findings of a recent National Drug and Alcohol
Research Centre report which said injected cocaine use had increased sixfold.

The Federal Police have stepped up their fight against cocaine as a result
of fears of a flood of the drug entering Australia.

Last week, they swooped on a 17m yacht off Coffs Harbour and seized 225kg
of high-grade cocaine, worth an estimated $50 million, the biggest haul
ever intercepted.

Cocaine costs about $200 a gram, or $50 a cap. Heroin is $25 a cap.

Kirketon Road clinic director Dr Ingrid van Beek said users were often
heroin addicts who boosted their high with up to 15 short-lived cocaine
hits a day.

"People use frequently in a very driven way, which is associated with more
risk taking when it comes to sharing needles," Dr van Beek said.

"They are using incredibly large amounts and are having to commit a lot of
crime to make their money."

The study found the average age of a user was 30 and more than half lived
on social security, while a third lived in boarding houses, refuges and on
the street.

The Kings Cross clinic will use the study to lobby for more funding.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski