With an estimated 18.1 million users in 2019, cocaine is one of the most widely used illicit narcotics globally. Although it is widely used worldwide, certain cities have higher consumption rates than others. This article explores possible contributing factors and identifies the American and Californian cities with the highest rates of cocaine consumption.
The California City with the Highest Rate of Cocaine Consumption
According to data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), San Francisco has the highest rate of cocaine consumption among all Californian cities. Remarkably, 4.4% of people 12 years of age or older admitted to using cocaine in the previous year2. This is more than twice the state average and higher than the rates in any other American metropolis.
San Francisco, known for its progressive lifestyle, multicultural population, and exciting nightlife, can draw those who are interested in drug experimentation. With roots in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the city also has a long history of drug use and activism. Residents and visitors may find cocaine particularly appealing because to its connotation with power, riches, and social standing.
However, using cocaine has serious negative effects on one’s health and society, such as addiction, overdose, heart problems, mental illnesses, aggression, and criminality. The San Francisco Department of Public Health reports that 22% of drug-related deaths in San Francisco in 2019 involved cocaine. Furthermore, sharing needles and other drug paraphernalia among users of cocaine increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases like hepatitis C and HIV.
The American City with the Highest Rate of Cocaine Consumption
Although San Francisco is the city in California with the highest prevalence of cocaine consumption, it is not the only American metropolis with high usage. In 2019, the SAMHSA released data showing that the national average for cocaine use among those 12 years of age and older was 1.5%. Some cities, meanwhile, greatly outperformed this average.
According to a survey conducted by American Addiction Centers, which examined data from 51 American metropolises, Phoenix, Arizona had the highest rate of cocaine consumption, with 20.6% of its residents reporting using the drug in the previous year. Mesa, Arizona (19.8%) and Omaha, Nebraska (19.5%) were next in line. Other notable cities with high cocaine usage rates were Fresno, California; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City; Wichita, Kansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
These high rates of cocaine consumption may be attributed to a number of factors, such as the drug’s accessibility and affordability, the proximity to the Mexican border, its status as the main source of cocaine in the United States, the lack of adequate prevention and treatment programs, and social and economic circumstances that drive people to turn to the drug in order to cope with stress, boredom, or trauma.
In summary
Cocaine is a dangerous and highly addictive drug that is harmful to people’s health as well as the health of the community. Although it is widely used throughout the world, some cities have higher than-average rates of consumption. In California, San Francisco is in first place, and across the US, Phoenix is in first place. Numerous hazards and obstacles, including addiction, overdose, sickness, violence, and criminality, are associated with cocaine usage in these cities. Therefore, it is essential to spread knowledge about cocaine use and its effects and to provide support to individuals who are experiencing them.
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