16 Facts About Cocaine Use in Canada

16 Facts About Cocaine Use in Canada

• Mandy Sandhu
• 26 Mar 2025

Cocaine is one of the most well-known and dangerous drugs worldwide, notorious for its addictive properties and severe health consequences. Despite being illegal in Canada, many people engage in its use and suffer from cocaine abuse.

In this article, we’ll explore 16 facts about cocaine, including cocaine statistics and insights into cocaine use in Canada. 

1. Cocaine Is Made From South American Coca Plant

Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, historically used as herbal medicine and (much weaker) stimulant in indigenous cultures in South America. Like its refined counterpart, the coca leaf is also banned in Canada. A person found with coca leaves can face fines of $1,000 or up to six months in jail for a first-time offense, with penalties increasing for repeat offenders.

2. Cocaine is a Potent Drug That Can Cause Overstimulation

Cocaine is a stimulant that causes energy and alertness but can also lead to negative effects like aggression, paranoia, anxiety, and even seizures. It can overstimulate the central nervous system, causing serious health risks.

3. Cocaine was Made Illegal in Canada in 1911

Canada banned cocaine in 1911 with the Opium and Drug Act, making it illegal to possess, traffic, or manufacture. Today, cocaine is a Schedule I drug under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Possession of cocaine can lead to seven years of jail time, while trafficking or manufacturing can lead to life imprisonment.

4. British Columbia Decriminalized Possession of Small Amounts of Cocaine in 2023

In January 2023, British Columbia granted a three-year exemption, allowing adults to legally possess small amounts (up to 2.5 grams) of cocaine and other drugs, such as crack, opioid, meth, and ecstasy, for personal use in specific locations, such as private residences and overdose prevention sites. The idea is to treat addiction as a health concern, not a criminal one.

5. In 2019, Cocaine Use in Canada was the Second Highest in the World

According to The Global Drug Survey 2019, Canada ranked second in the world behind only Scotland in terms of frequency of use. In the survey, researchers asked people how many days they had used cocaine in the last 12 months. Canada’s average of 10 days was almost double the global average of six.  

6. Cocaine Is Cheap in Canada

Despite being one of the most expensive drugs globally, cocaine costs roughly $85 per gram in Canada, well below the global average of $120.

7. Cocaine Is the Third Most Commonly Detected Illegal Drug in Impaired Driving Incidents in Canada

Trends in drug-impaired driving reports show cocaine is the third most prevalent drug found in drivers involved in accidents.

8. Driving Under the Influence of Cocaine Can Result in Imprisonment

Driving under the influence of cocaine and refusing to undergo mandatory drug tests required by police officers is considered a grave criminal offence with a maximum jail time of 10 years.

Image source: Canva

9. Cocaine Comes in Different Forms

Cocaine comes in different forms: powder, freebase, and crack.

Powder

Powdered cocaine is a white, fine powder that can be snorted, rubbed into the gums, or consumed intravenously. Street dealers are known to dupe buyers by mixing powder cocaine with cornstarch, sugar, or talc. 

Freebase

Freebase cocaine is manufactured by dissolving cocaine powder in water and ammonia to remove or “free” the “base” or hydrochloric acid from the cocaine. Once removed, it turns into a solid, crystallized rock of purified, potent cocaine.

Crack

To reduce the danger of smoking freebase, street chemists developed crack cocaine. It’s made by cooking it with baking soda that crackles when heated, hence the name. 

10. Cocaine Is One of the Most Commonly Abused Drugs in Canada

According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, cocaine is one of the most commonly abused substances in the country, alongside alcohol and cannabis. Approximately two percent of Canadians consume cocaine in some form, accounting for roughly half of all illicit drug use.

11. As of 2023 Cocaine in Canadian Wastewater Continues to Rise

According to a Statistics Canada report, cocaine in Canadian wastewater has steadily risen since 2020, suggesting an increase in usage. Compared to over 150 cities in Europe that conduct similar testing, 5 Canadian cities rank in the top 10 for highest levels of cocaine in wastewater. 

12. The Carbon Footprint of One Kilogram of Cocaine Is 30x Greater Than Cocoa Beans

The environmental impact of producing cocaine is 30x greater than growing cocoa beans, contributing heavily to deforestation, soil degradation, pollution, and destruction of freshwater and estuary ecosystems.

Image source: Canva

13. Cocaine Users Have a Higher Risk of Contracting HIV/Aids and Hepatitis 

Studies reveal that cocaine use accelerates HIV infection by damaging immune cell function. Individuals with HIV and cocaine addiction are also more vulnerable to contracting other disease-causing viruses such as hepatitis C, a virus that impairs healthy liver function.

14. Cocaine Was the First Local Anesthetic

Modern-day anesthesia is a byproduct of cocaine. Carl Koller, an ophthalmologist from Austria, first used it in 1884 when he performed a surgical operation by putting a cocaine solution in the cornea.

15. Sigmund Freud Stopped Advocating For Cocaine’s Medical Benefits Due to Side Effects

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was one of the earliest advocates of cocaine use in the 1880s. But he stopped immediately after his friend, Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, developed a cocaine addiction. 

16. Alcohol, Opioids, and Cocaine Use in Canada Caused an Increase in Hospital Stays During the Pandemic

Between March and September 2020, there were approximately 81,000 recorded hospital stays in Canada due to the harm caused by alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and stimulants such as cocaine—an increase of 4,000 stays compared to the previous year.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Freedom

In response to problematic cocaine use in Canada, Freedom From Addiction offers an intensive, evidence-based, and individualized approach to treating substance use disorders. Our Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program includes:

• Medically Guided Drug Detox
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Group and Individual Counselling
• Concurrent Disorders Treatment
• Relapse Prevention

For more information about cocaine facts and our drug addiction treatments, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. A member of our team will get back to you shortly.