Bristol named new cocaine capital of Europe after beating out Paris and Madrid
The West Country city achieved the new high after researchers examined waste water samples for benzoylecgonine which is produced when the body breaks down the class-A drug
BRISTOL has achieved an unwanted high — for cocaine use.
It has topped a table of 73 European cities based on trace levels in sewage.
The West Country city — home to the Clifton Suspension Bridge — outstripped druggies’ favourite Amsterdam and capitals including Madrid and Paris.
Researchers examined waste water samples for benzoylecgonine, which is produced when the body breaks down the class-A substance.
Bristol’s average daily reading last year was 969.2mg per 1,000 people — up from 754.7mg in 2017.
Amsterdam (932.4mg) was second, followed by Zurich, Antwerp and Barcelona.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reported: “While it may indicate more people are consuming cocaine, it may mean there is greater use of cocaine by the same people.
“Alternatively, it may simply reflect the increased purity of cocaine in Europe.”
The March 2018 findings also showed increases in traces of Ecstasy at several locations, including Cyprus.
Bristol was the only UK city to take part, with London previously topping the coke table.
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