Cocaine Abuse at Epidemic Levels, World Body Says
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GENEVA — Cocaine abuse has reached epidemic levels in North and South America and is rapidly spreading to Europe and Asia, the World Health Organization said Friday.
A statement issued after a two-day meeting of drug experts in Geneva said the highest priority should be given to fighting the health problems caused by spiraling cocaine abuse.
Describing cocaine as “the most dependence-producing drug available,” the experts urged the health organization to develop a plan of action to prevent further abuse of the drug around the world.
Smoking of coca paste by young people in urban Latin America has emerged as a serious and widespread phenomenon, they said. A health organization spokeswoman said many people are now also injecting cocaine, instead of inhaling it through the nose.
The experts further warned against the growing abuse of volatile solvents--the sniffing or inhaling of paint and glue.
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