COCAINE USE IN THE UK JUST AS HIGH AS IN US

THE level of cocaine use in the UK is as high as in the US, a new
report on international drug use has suggested.

The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) annual report said
two per cent of the UK's population used cocaine.

The report also found the UK had one of Europe's highest rates of
cannabis use, alongside the Czech Republic, France, Ireland and
Switzerland, in 2005.

INCB chief Professor Hamid Ghodse said downgrading cannabis had been a
mistake.

In 2005, British authorities seized more heroin than any other
European country, the report also said.

Prof Ghodse said methamphetamine, a drug said to be gaining sway in
dance culture, was emerging as the biggest drug problem across the
world.

"If I want to pick on one major drug problem pandemic today, it is
methamphetamine," he said.

"It has not yet affected that much of Western European countries and
the UK but, as drug misuse occurs in North America sooner or later it
gets here."

"Methamphetamine is today's problem drug. We think that it is
extremely worrying."

The INCB's annual report also suggested governments should screen all
incoming and outgoing mail in an effort to stop "drugs by post" scams.