Cocaine Abuse at Epidemic Levels, World Body Says
Cocaine abuse has reached epidemic levels in North and South America and is rapidly spreading to Europe and Asia, the World Health Organization said Friday.
A statement issued after a two-day meeting of drug experts in Geneva said the highest priority should be given to fighting the health problems caused by spiraling cocaine abuse.
Describing cocaine as “the most dependence-producing drug available,” the experts urged the health organization to develop a plan of action to prevent further abuse of the drug around the world.
Smoking of coca paste by young people in urban Latin America has emerged as a serious and widespread phenomenon, they said. A health organization spokeswoman said many people are now also injecting cocaine, instead of inhaling it through the nose.
The experts further warned against the growing abuse of volatile solvents--the sniffing or inhaling of paint and glue.
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