A new NHS report has revealed a shocking rise in the number of older people using cocaine, including users aged over 90.
Last year ten people aged between 90 and 99 were admitted to hospital for ‘mental health issues’ after taking the Class A drug, according to the NHS Digital report.
The number of over 60s being treated for cocaine-related mental health disorders soared to 379 in 2018-19 compared to 45 in 2008-09, the report found.
Experts have blamed the rising use by elderly people on falling prices, people living longer and increased purity of the drugs.
Dr Emily Finch, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, described the rise as ‘deeply worrying.’
She told the Sunday Times: ‘Many people don’t realise that cocaine use can cause mental health problems, resulting in people becoming so unwell they need to be admitted to hospital.’
The report revealed the number of people over 50 treated for cocaine-related mental health disorders rose by 800% from 160 a decade ago to 1,460 last year.
