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Here is the most consumed drug in Paris

undefined undefined 20 mars 2025 undefined 20h00

undefined undefined 1 avril 2025 undefined 09h52

The Editor

Requiem for a Dream © Thousand Words /Protozoa Pictures

The European Union Agency for Drugs has just conducted a new study revealing the most common drugs found in the sewers of the biggest cities in the Old Continent. And the findings are quite alarming, as the levels of substances keep increasing year after year. So, what’s the most commonly found drug in Paris?

First things first, we want to start with some good news: when it comes to drug consumption, the French capital is not nearly as bad a student as one might think. According to the latest results from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Paris lags behind Amsterdam, Dublin, and Prague. However, the issue is still present on the streets of Paris. So, what substance holds a special place in the habits of Parisians? We'll tell you all about it.


A General Increase in Consumption Rates

The figures revealed by the European agency this March are clear: overall, there is an increasing trend in drug use across Europe. And Paris is no exception. At the top of the list, we find...

the cocaine, which is the most prevalent drug found in the wastewater of Paris's inner city. Experts are clear: the sewers of Paris are full of traces of "C", and not of sharks, much to the dismay of Netflix filmmakers.

It's not surprising, really! Just a few months ago, the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT) reported a very alarming finding: in just one year, the number of cocaine users in France has simply doubled. This drastic increase is due to stable prices, but also to changes in the profiles of consumers.

The same observation applies to 4 out of the 5 other drugs detected in wastewater: amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy — along with its active ingredient, MDMA — and ketamine. In all cases, Parisians are clearly becoming more and more fond of this type of entertainment. Yet, the 6th of the substances...High in demand, even though it is the only one whose consumption has decreased, it remains, by far, the most consumed in the capital.


Cannabis today, cannabis forever

However, even though cocaine is making a strong comeback in recent years, Parisians and more generally the French remain very addicted to cannabis, with 5 million users in 2023, 1.4 million regular users (10 times in the last month) and 900,000 daily consumers nationwide. This loyalty is partly due to more affordable prices and lighter effects, allowing consistent consumption throughout the week. Despite a nearly 50% decrease in consumption compared to the previous year, cannabis remains the clear favorite.

For harder drugs, we notice that there are more significant consumption patterns during the weekends. And it's no wonder, as that's when most consumers go out for parties, for a pre-game, for an after-party, and at any other moment that’s better suited for taking illegal recreational substances. This, however, doesn't seem to stop more and more people from indulging in it way more frequently. What a lovely picture of Paris!