How damaging is social cocaine use?

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New findings have revealed it’s not just chronic use of cocaine that puts users at risk of cardiovascular disease

Amid news of Geoff Huegill’s arrest for cocaine possession and the Australian Crime Commission releasing figures showing a record-high number of amphetamine seizures , University of Sydney research has found that people who use cocaine ‘socially’ are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The findings, published in leading medical journal PLOS ONE, show that social cocaine users had increased stiffness in the arteries, increased systolic blood pressure, and greater left ventricular mass, compared with the non-users. These measures are all well-known risk factors for premature cardiovascular events.

“The demonstrated adverse effects on long-term cardiovascular health such as increased blood pressure, arterial stiffness and cardiac mass suggest that cocaine use does not just cause acute consequences, but also increases long term cardiovascular morbidity (heart attacks, strokes) and mortality,” said lead author Dr Rebecca Kozor. “With cardiovascular disease being a leading cause of death in Australia, people need to be aware of the dangers of social cocaine use on their long term health.”

While paper senior author Professor Gemma Figtree notes that the risk of a heart attack from regular cocaine use is well known, “the chronic effect of regular cocaine use in otherwise healthy adults who consider themselves ‘social’ users is more difficult to establish,” she said. “While some people who use cocaine recreationally may not think that they are doing their body a lot of harm, our results show this is not the case, and that cocaine is dangerous for your health even when taken socially”

According to the Illicit Drug Data Report 2012-2013, there was a record number of cocaine seizures last financial year with 7.8 per cent of Australians aged 18 and over reporting they have used cocaine. In NSW, cocaine seizures were higher than any other state.

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