Reasons for hiked usage of cocaine

Reasons for hiked usage of cocaine

The sun article in one way or the other addresses the issue of rising in the usage of cocaine in the United Kingdom. The subject of a transition from easier access by the middle class to the lower class at higher levels, as a result, revokes a series of questions on the reasons for the change. The analysis takes a look at a span of seven years. The subject brings in a newer term: crack cocaine to help in digging deep into the subject. It arrives at that cracked cocaine was originally the sniffed thou injected in today’s society. It has not been mentioned that the British government propelled the increased usage of cocaine in adopting the “2002 crack strategy.” The budget cut is a profound strategy for a growing economy as was the case for the United Kingdom in the early 19^th century. Youth unemployment alongside wider social and economic gaps was hence rampant. It was thus easier to engage in illicit trade as the next best alternative form of living. The long-time foundation laid a path for the current 2007-2017 trend. A clear understanding is depicted by combining data across age brackets for both the pre-2007 and post-2007 periods.

Fig 1: Trend in drug use (Crime survey 2017/2018 for wales and England)

Data presented by Roe and man (2006) indicates higher levels of usage of cocaine in England and Wales about both other drugs and other countries. The essence of comparison of cocaine to other drugs relates to the tendency of its usage prevalence amongst the independent and the non-working groups. The subject again refers to the aspect of the claim that there is a tendency to have higher consumptions amongst the lower-income earners as compared to the middle earners. It might be a subject of reason as to why the prices have greatly reduced. Economic analysis, in this case, indicates that the consumer price range is a great influencer in choices of consumption. Cocaine has been listed in psychoactive drugs a factor that has made it a player in the consumption range. Similar colors are used for the same drug in different countries placed in different bars on the graph for a clear outlook.

Fig 1: prevalence of drug use reported by adults: 2007

Improvement in technology has also played a great role in increasing the diffusion of the drug amongst consumers. It is, for instance, observed that social media is a great tool for ordering and delivery thus reducing the barriers encountered amongst the peers. Rather than being observed as a lifestyle for the rich the young has substituted the use of cocaine as an alternative form of leisure.

A clearer picture of the increased cocaine consumption despite lower qualities can be ascertained by statistical evidence of rates of death and potency concerning purity. It is, therefore, less considered a fashion to take higher qualities of cocaine since they attract higher prices. A clearer outline is indicated in a graph for a clearer view of the aspects of death and potency which signifies the risks affiliated to the use of cocaine. Again the number of deaths is counter compared on both sides of the graph to give a parallel comparison.

Fig 2: Deaths and purity on cocaine usage in the United Kingdom (2008 data by ONS: Office for National Statistics and national crime agency)

Improvement on “‘ Sun’ on cocaine use”

“Sun’s” audience would be misled by unrealistic data, the Trend in drug use depicted in the page ought to be from a reliable source. The background again ought to bear a strongly contrasting color easier for comparison with the plots. The graph showing the amount of cocaine used depending on household income would better be represented with calibrations in an ascending order of the household income. The data analyzed would pose easier to understand hence quicker analysis. Data need to be presented on criminal activities to support a claim that cocaine is not the primary contributing factor. A different version maybe a pie chart that would give the audience a platform for a wider understanding of the subject. The article seems to concentrate on analysis of individual cases which is a weak evidence for a large sample. It would be better to include data and info-graphics with wider samples.