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3mo ago

Cocaine Use Rises Among Young German Adults, BIÖG Study Shows

Easier online access to more potent drugs raises health risks, prompting calls for earlier prevention.

Sichergestelltes Kokain wird beim Hamburger Zoll präsentiert.
Sendungsbild
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Der Kokainkonsum ist bei den jungen Erwachsenen in den vergangenen Jahren spürbar gestiegen. Der Bundesdrogenbeauftragte Hendrik Streeck zeigte sich von dieser Entwicklung "alarmiert".

Overview

  • The BIÖG’s Drogenaffinitätsstudie, published Wednesday, found 4.1% of 18- to 25-year-olds used cocaine in the past year, up from 1.2% in 2015.
  • Overall, 18.7% of 18- to 25-year-olds reported lifetime experience with at least one illegal drug, up from 13.5% in 2023.
  • The survey of 7,001 people (ages 12–25) shows a clear gender gap: nearly 24% of young men versus about 13% of young women report illegal drug experience.
  • Consumption among 12- to 17-year-olds remains low at 2.5%, and EUDA wastewater analyses cited in the report back the adult increase but not a rise for under-18s.
  • Federal drug officials warned that digital sales and stronger substances accelerate risk, urged earlier education and prevention, and highlighted cocaine’s serious heart, brain and mental-health harms.