Cocaine use falls by 14% as dealers lower the purity

The number of people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction has fallen as drug users turn their backs on a "low-quality product", health chiefs said today.

A report by the National Treatment Agency reveals a 14 per cent decline in the number of addicts asking for medical help last year - reversing the trend from the previous four years when admissions had risen.

"As efforts to disrupt supply bear fruit, the wholesale cost of cocaine has been rising steadily, encouraging dealers to boost their profits by bulking it up before selling it on the streets," the agency's report said. "It would come as little surprise if users turned their backs on a low-quality product."

Analysis of cocaine seized by police found that pills often contain 20 per cent or less of the drug and are frequently "bulked out" with substances ranging from talcum powder to carcinogenic compounds that pose additional health risks. Another trend is the decline in admissions for problems with class A drugs among adults aged 18 to 24. However, the number of people in this age group seeking treatment for cannabis has risen by a third since 2006.