Researchers have confirmed what emergency services have long suspected: England's drug use spikes during bank holidays, heatwaves, and major sports events, with Eurovision apparently serving as the unofficial national drug holiday. A study led by Imperial College London for the Home Office analyzed over 1,700 wastewater samples from 15 treatment sites across England in 2022, finding that cocaine and ketamine use in particular are off the charts compared to other European countries.
Ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic that can be fatal and causes bladder problems severe enough to require surgical repair or organ removal, was detected at higher levels in seven English sites than any other European location monitored. Professor Leon Barron, who leads Imperial's Environmental Research Group, noted that ketamine use is worryingly consistent: "People are using it every single day and to the same degree, no matter whether it's a weekend or a weekday."
The tests tracked 20 different compounds, including cocaine, MDMA, heroin, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. Cocaine was detected at the highest average daily levels, with the 15 sites finding the equivalent of about 12 tonnes over the year. Cocaine and MDMA peaked on weekends, though cocaine remained high throughout the week. Drug use spiked during England's World Cup matches, summer heatwaves, and bank holidays including the Queen's platinum jubilee celebrations. Eurovision stood out as a particularly drug-fueled night, with rises in cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, also showed the impact of drug seizures: in March 2022, authorities impounded 3.7 tonnes of cocaine at Southampton docks, which severely dented consumption in three cities for a month. "You can knock out or massively impact cocaine consumption in major urban areas, and these sites were hundreds of miles away from each other," Barron said.
A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency warned that ketamine use, dependence, and related harms have increased significantly among young people aged 16 to 24, who often see it as a "safe party drug." A government spokesperson countered that their crackdown is working, citing nearly 5 tonnes of cocaine seized at one port in less than a month, depriving criminal gangs of over £400m. The findings are intended to help emergency services prepare for overdose spikes and to inform public health messaging, particularly around the risks of mixing drugs with alcohol or using them during heatwaves.