TThe Prime Minister and his Cabinet have made it clear that they intend to ensure that those caught rioting are brought to justice swiftly. The “full force of the law” will be applied, not just as punishment but as a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking part in the unrest that has swept our cities over the past week. As the details of the offences emerge, several of those charged with violence are also charged with possession of the Class A drug cocaine.
Cocaine suits those involved in insurgency in many ways. It is a stimulant that not only gives one energy and confidence, but also distorts and disinhibits beliefs. All deeply held views and feelings are amplified under the influence of cocaine. In a twisted way, it is the perfect drug to encourage the kind of behavior we are currently seeing.
We know that social media not only spreads information about where and when far-right thinkers can gather, but also fuels their prejudices and reinforces their perceptions of immigration and the threat it poses to them and their communities. Add to that easy access to cocaine, and you have all the ingredients needed to drive people into the streets and cause the violent, senseless destruction we have seen.
Unlike in the 1980s and 1990s, cocaine is no longer a drug of the rich – it has become a “cheap” drug. Its price has fallen while its purity or strength has increased. During a cost of living crisis that has seen the prices of so many staples rise, cocaine has bucked the trend and become cheaper and more potent than ever before.
The Office for National Statistics’ annual drug use survey shows just how widespread and popular cocaine has become. If we can’t keep cocaine out of our prisons – arguably some of the most tightly controlled institutions in the UK – what chance do we have of preventing it from being available in our communities?
But it’s not just illegal drugs – alcohol also plays a role. Cocaine and alcohol are often used in combination, as the latter can enhance the effects of the former (although combining illegal drugs and alcohol is of course dangerous).
Some of these rioters will no doubt attribute their actions to cocaine and try to use the drug to excuse their bigotry, but the truth is that cocaine does not change your beliefs and principles – it merely reinforces existing ones. Cocaine, like alcohol, alters judgment, but it does not create new beliefs. If you already had racist views, they will be reinforced, but they will not be created under the influence of either drug.
As cocaine use becomes more widespread in our society, so does its normalization. It is no longer just a party drug and for some people it has become almost as common as a pint of beer. Although it remains illegal, its status as a Class A drug does not seem to prevent its widespread use.
While the immediate challenge is to stop rioters using cocaine to support their illegal activities, this Government faces a longer-term challenge. Given our failure to prevent widespread cocaine use in the UK, it is time to rethink our policy on this and other drugs. While we may have succeeded in bringing the riots under control, cocaine use remains out of control and the strong link between the two means that one cannot be considered truly eradicated until the other is also properly regulated.
