France is experiencing a significant rise in cocaine use, a trend that is increasingly burdening the national healthcare system. According to the latest official data published by BFM TV, emergency service interventions related to cocaine consumption increased by 26% in 2025.
The National Institute of Public Health reports that more than 6,500 emergency calls linked to cocaine-related incidents were recorded last year, along with 2,096 hospitalizations.
These figures indicate an average of around 125 emergency interventions per week, reflecting sustained pressure on healthcare services.
Authorities note that this upward trend has been ongoing for over a decade, with a brief stabilization in 2019, followed by a sharper increase in 2023.
Cocaine, one of the most widely used illicit drugs globally after cannabis, has seen growing consumption in France over the past ten years, often alongside substances such as MDMA/ecstasy.
The data also highlights significant regional disparities, with higher rates of interventions in Brittany, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and French Guiana.
Of the 39,383 cocaine-related emergency interventions recorded between 2012 and 2025, 73% involved men, with an average age of 32.
In 2025, the renewed increase affected all age groups and both sexes, except for people over 60.
Health authorities warn that beyond addiction, cocaine use can lead to serious acute complications, particularly cardiovascular and psychiatric conditions, raising further concerns for public health in France.
