Scotland has been referred to as the "cocaine capital of the world" in a new documentary.
Is Scotland the New Cocaine Capital? is a short film produced by Vice as part of its High Society series. These videos focus on drug use in and around the UK.
According to the makers of the short film, "Scotland has the highest level of cocaine consumption on the planet." They add: "This epidemic is adding to one of the world’s deadliest drug crises".
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Is Scotland the New Cocaine Capital? features reporter Josh Osbourne speaking with cocaine dealers and users to learn more about why the drug is so popular in the country.
He states: "Scotland has the highest level of cocaine consumption in the world, with Scots taking about 1.2g of coke per session — double the global average."
Pablo, an anonymous cocaine dealer seen in the documentary, states: "Eighty per cent of the people I know that are my age take it. It's one of these things, when people get a drink in them up here, they just end up going mental."
The documentary details the increasing prevalence of cocaine users taking the drug via injection as opposed to snorting. As stated by reporter Osbourne, "this has led to an outbreak of HIV because cocaine is injected more frequently than heroin".
According to Joe, a cocaine user featured in the film, doing this allows the drug "into the system quicker". He continues: "I've been injecting it into the groin for about a year now. I just wanted to get it into me quicker."
The documentary then goes onto to examine the government's "failed" efforts in the war on drugs, and the crime families behind the distribution of cocaine in Glasgow.
It also investigates possible solutions to the problem. Simon McCleane, a former undercover cop, states that the aim should be to "decriminalise". He adds: "Not just to have a free for all, that everyone can go and buy drugs whenever they want — that's actually how it is right now.
"We need to put a system of regulation in place, that we take control of what people are buying, where they're buying it, who they're buying it from, and we take control of that marketplace and keep people safe."
Watch High Society: Is Scotland the New Cocaine Capital? below.
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