COCAINE users in their 90s are turning up in hospital.
The number of older people treated for abuse of the Class A drug — more usually linked to young revellers, City workers or footie yobs — rose sharply in the past year, figures obtained by The Sun show.
GettyThe increasing numbers of middle-aged and retired people using cocaine has been dubbed ‘the rise of the silver snorters’[/caption]
Over-60s — dubbed “silver snorters” — were admitted 540 times.
They included 85 aged 70 to 79, 11 in their 80s — and three nonagenarians.
Dr Mateen Durrani, clinical expert at the UK Addiction Treatment Group, said: “As these figures suggest, cocaine use can have a detrimental impact on users of all ages.
“Cocaine users in their 60s, 70s and 80s might not be used to the potency of the drug that has been available on the market for the last few years.
This has led to greater issues directly linked to their overall mental health.”
Many of those admitted would have suffered overdoses or seizures – but the figures also take into account people suffering issues like depression due to cocaine use.
Alarmingly, there were also two cases of children under nine treated – likely to have found cocaine in their households and accidentally taken it.
Overall, the NHS recorded 12,082 admissions between 2022 to 2023 which is up 81 percent on a decade ago where 6,680 cases were registered.
The increasing numbers of middle-aged and retired people using cocaine has been dubbed “the rise of the silver snorters”.
The UK is now regarded as the cocaine capital of Europe.