Cocaine epidemic hits NSW users in their 40s, 50s and 60s

Cocaine is no longer the preserve of the young, with NSW police doubling the number of arrests among “comfortably off” users in their 40s, 50s and 60s in five years.

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The number of middle-aged cocaine users arrested by police has doubled in the past five years, with a new demographic of “comfortably off" drug dabblers hitting new highs.

Cases involving an arrest or legal action taken for either possession or drug use skyrocketed to 226 in the 12 months to June this year.

And a record 12 per cent of 1888 cocaine arrests made in the same period were for users aged over 40.

The number of middle-aged cocaine users arrested by police has doubled in the past five years

There were 196 cocaine arrests among the middle-aged, compared to 110 in 2015.

Data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows the use of the party drug ecstasy has also soared 15.7 per cent over the past five years among the same age group.

Police made 53 arrests in 2015 compared with 95 this year.

The data suggests the rise is the result of “continued use among an ageing user cohort,” revealing age does not lead to people giving up the powerful and highly addictive drug.

“These findings tally with the rising purity and availability of cocaine we have seen in recent years,” said Sydney hospital emergency specialist Gordian Fulde.

“Quite simply, the drug is two or three times more potent than it was and because it’s expensive the older, more financially viable, population, does it, they’ve done it for years and know how much they can get away with; it’s about continued use among an ageing user cohort.

“People want to escaping reality when they’re older, the kids have grown up and they can afford to go to festivals which can cost more than $2,000 for the weekend including accommodation and drugs.

“Older users see it as glamorous compared to ice viewed as cheaper and dirty, celebrities and the rich have glamorised it. It feels more acceptable and safe by the comfortably well off who have been doing it for decades.”

Australia has some of the most expensive cocaine in the world, costing an average $311 a gram, making the white powder the second most-expensive in the world, behind New Zealand, according to last year’s Global Drug Survey.

Australia has some of the most expensive cocaine in the world, costing an average $311 a gram.

The average global price is around $127. Americans pay $88, Colombians just $8.60.

About 13 per cent of Australians surveyed by the GDS said they could order a bag of powder and have it dropped off in 30 minutes, about the time it takes for a pizza to be delivered.

Generally, people under 40 have reported a decrease in recent illicit drug usage since 2001, according to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2017.

The largest per cent change of illicit drug use was among people aged 60 or older which increased from 3.9 per cent in 2001 to 6.9 per cent in 2016, followed by people in their 50s (from 6.7 per cent to 11.7 per cent).

BOCSAR Acting Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said “There has been an increase in drug use generally year on year for cocaine among people over 40 generally and these figures are based on arrests – the figures only represent those caught and are likely to be higher.

“Ecstasy and cocaine are more commonly used by older people who are more adept at not being detected than younger people.”