They say that while heroin, crack and methadone remain largely taboo, cocaine has lost its social stigma, is not seen to be physically addictive in the same way as heroin, and is not usually injected - at least not by novices. The latter have the highest levels of clubbing and pubbing and double the average personal consumption levels of illicit drugs. The survey says that the growth in the popularity of cocaine has so far been confined to London, Merseyside and the south of England, but it warns it could become more widespread. But having said that, cocaine consumption across England and Wales remains much lower than that found in American cities over the past 20 years. Mike Goodman, director of Release, the national drug advice line, said he was surprised by the extent of the growth of cocaine, but he confirmed that there had been a distinct rise in the use of cocaine in clubs which had coincided with a boom in champagne sales at the same venue.
People have got more money, cocaine is cheaper.