A new report reveals that cocaine use in France has nearly doubled, with 1.1 million people using the drug in 2023, up from 600,000 in 2022. The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) attributes the rise to factors such as record global cocaine production and a shift in how the drug is perceived. Once seen as a recreational substance for the wealthy, cocaine is now increasingly used by individuals in blue-collar industries to cope with intense workloads.
The report highlights a rise in the use of crack cocaine and notes that cocaine is now considered less dangerous than it was two decades ago. The drug’s purity has also increased, with 73% of cocaine seized in 2023 being of higher purity, compared to just 46% in 2011. This surge in cocaine consumption has pushed France into 7th place in Europe for cocaine use.
In addition to cocaine, heroin and MDMA (ecstasy) use are also on the rise. Heroin consumption has climbed to 850,000 users, while MDMA use has surged from 400,000 to 750,000 people between 2019 and 2023. The increase in drug use, particularly among young adults, has coincided with a rise in drug-related violence, including shootouts that have spread beyond major cities like Marseille.
Authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs, with 23.5 tonnes of cocaine seized in 2023, a sharp rise from 4.1 tonnes in 2010. By the end of November 2024, nearly 47 tonnes had been seized. The illicit drug trade is estimated to generate between 3.5 and six billion euros annually.
As drug-related crime escalates, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has vowed to intensify efforts to combat narcotics and drug-related violence, which is increasingly affecting daily life across France.