Exclusive By Phil Coleman

Last updated 12:02, Tuesday, 24 June 2008

A DRUGS charity has launched a campaign to help Cumbria’s growing number of cocaine addicts after revealing the victims include a child aged 12.

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The youngster, from north Cumbria, was among 98 people aged under 20 who last year sought help from Straightline, a youth drug and alcohol advice service.

The service is part of Cumbria Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service, (Cadas), which now helps more cocaine users than ever.

Highly addictive, the drug can have a devastating effect on health.

Though users experience an energy rush, the side effects can include heart disease, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, paranoia, and mood disturbances.

It is the alarming increase in the drug’s popularity among adults – fuelled by its easy availability and low prices – that has prompted Cadas to today launch its campaign, highlighting the help that it can offer.

Over the last 17 years, the price of cocaine in Cumbria has fallen from £120 per gram to just £40 per gram – the amount typically used by a person on a night out.

For many users, from across the social spectrum, cocaine is now the social drug of choice.

One north Cumbrian man lost his business after wasting £15,000 a year on his habit.

Cadas now offers innovative support to adult users, with help that includes so-called black box therapy, a form of electronic acupuncture that dramatically reduces the users’ cravings.

There is evidence the device helps addicts kick their habit. It also promotes relaxation and reduces withdrawal from a range of drugs, including alcohol, heroin, amphetamine and ecstasy.

Cadas also offers confidential information, advice, and “ non-judgemental” counselling.

Paul Brown, the charity’s director, said: “Cocaine has been in the city for three or four years now and we’re getting to the stage where people have had their fun and they’re feeling the effects.

“We’re now getting referrals throughout Cumbria. There’s a lot of cocaine about – it’s cheaper than it’s ever been.

“People who use it don’t see themselves as dropout drug users: they see it as a celebrity drug.

“But it puts pressure on people’s hearts and it pushes your pulse rate up. It can cause a lot of stress on a social level.

“I was talking to somebody last week who now doesn’t go out now unless there’s cocaine available. It’s a very corrosive substance.

“People also use cocaine to give themselves what’s called alcohol stamina, allowing them to drink and drink and stay on their feet, which obviously carries risks.”

Heavy cocaine users often suffer “Columbian flu,” a reference to its source country and way it can leave users with a runny nose.

Mr Brown gave a disturbing insight into the general availability of cocaine.

He said: “It’s been shown that 40 per cent of bank notes have minute traces of cocaine on them because people roll them up and use them as a tube to snort it up.

“Fourteen per cent of cocaine users catch hepatitis because there are microscopic blood particles in their nose which can be transferred to the notes used to snort.”

Ian Rig, from Straightline, said: “I work with people aged under 20 and cocaine use has definitely been on the increase for the last couple years.”

His service’s annual report blames the rising popularity of cocaine on its availability, reduced price. “Cocaine now appears to be as popular as ecstasy among stimulant users,” it adds.

Cadas has this week relocated to 17A West Tower Street, just around the corner from Market Street. The service is entirely confidential and free. You can call on any one of the following numbers: 01228 544140; 01768 895566; and 01900 608498.

You can also email staff there confidentially at info@cadas.co.uk