1300 DRUGSAFE 
New South Wales is making the headlines again relating to illicit cocaine use.
This after recent operations targeting the supply of cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. In this case, Police apprehended a total of 55 people for either buying or selling cocaine. What’s shocking is the brazen way buyers and sellers act on the streets of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. It is definitely unsettling.
In an article by Lucy Cormack in The Sydney Morning Herald, she details efforts and worries of the authorities that are working to contain cocaine use in the country.
In the past two years, the Bureau of Crime and Statistics saw a 7.7 increase in the number of criminal cases involving the possession and use of cocaine.
What’s clear is that Sydneysiders have a big appetite for the drug. According to the state’s chief crime statistician Don Weatherburn, “There is no doubt Sydney is the cocaine capital of Australia.”
A growing acceptance of cocaine use
The acceptance of the drug likely contributes to the growing base of cocaine users.
For some, it’s a weekly habit, and for others, an occasional treat. Furthermore, its reputation as an elite drug is also not helping. Drug user demographics show cocaine has become the drug of choice of the affluent.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott says that the elite are not protected from the reality of a cold jail cell. He added: “The use of any illicit drug is unacceptable, regardless of the demographic or reason and I’ll be backing our police 100 percent in their battle to rid this poison from our community.”
Record production of cocaine
According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the number of cocaine users in the nation continues to grow.
Mr. Weatherburn worries that if occasional users become daily or weekly users, it may lead to a rise in other crime.
Cocaine seizures this year gives you an idea of the supply that makes its way into the country. For instance, law enforcement yielded 68kg of cocaine in April and just this week, another 30kg was discovered in a Southern Tablelands lab.
According to Shane Neilson, ACIC’s head of determination high risk and emerging drugs, “the world is inundated with cocaine at the moment.”
There is record production of cocaine in Colombia, where a kilo of the coca plant costs $200, and on the streets of Sydney, costs $300 a gram. However, despite the high price tag, the user base of the illicit drug is expanding.
The Broadened User Base of Cocaine
The perception of cocaine has changed significantly over the past two to five years. According to the latest data, the user base is no longer limited to certain sections of society. In fact, many now view cocaine as a party drug and do not see an issue with using it.
As per Police Minister Elliott, cocaine is a curse to society. And law enforcement needs continued support to fight the war.
In the absence of stigma (unlike heroin), tackling growing cocaine use takes more than just seizing the drug. We need to be clear that cocaine abuse really is a curse on society.
You can read the original article here.
Enforce Random Drug Testing For Cocaine At Work
What the recent reports show is that no demographic, industry or profession is safe from illicit drug use. It is an unfortunate truth that many drug users in our country not only are affluent, but belong to the workforce.
Without knowing who among your employees use cocaine, how can you take action against growing drug dependency and maintain workplace safety?
This is where drug testing for cocaine comes in. Random drug testing has shown to be very effective in curbing employee drug use.
By making random drug testing part of your comprehensive drug safe workplace programme (along with cocaine awareness programme), you can deter your employees from using and the drug.
Drug-Safe Australia will help you develop the most effective drug policy and tailor it to meet your company’s needs.
Find out who among your employees is abusing cocaine — get in touch with us today.
