The number of cocaine related hospital admissions has increased by 114% in the last five years despite an overall decrease in those admitted for illicit drugs.

Public Health Wales says the increase has been observed in all age groups from young people to older aged adults.

This is a substantial rise – but not one that is isolated to Wales, similar patterns related to cocaine use are emerging UK and Europe-wide. It is likely that increased availability and purity levels of cocaine, in addition to use of alcohol and other drugs alongside cocaine, are contributing to the increase in hospital admissions and treatment assessments. Public Health Wales

The report also found the number of people admitted to hospital for alcohol-specific conditions is 2.4 times higher than admissions for illicit drug use.

There has also been a 7% rise in 2017 for alcohol deaths with 540 deaths - the highest number of alcohol deaths per year since 2008.