According to a report by Daily Mail (UK) on Friday, September 18, 2026, the increasing availability and use of cocaine among university students in Britain is raising concerns as thousands of young people begin their university experience during Freshers Week.
Fiona, a mother whose name has been changed, described the frightening moment she received a FaceTime call from her 18-year-old daughter Zoe at about 2am. Zoe had recently started university and was calling from a nightclub with her new boyfriend, Leo.
Fiona had initially been concerned about whether her daughter would settle into university, make friends, eat properly and cope with her studies. However, when she saw Zoe on the video call, she immediately became concerned about something else.
Fiona said she could barely understand what her daughter was saying and noticed that she appeared unusually energetic and distressed. At first, she assumed Zoe had simply been drinking alcohol. However, Fiona said her previous experience working in the City helped her recognise signs that suggested cocaine use. She noticed Zoe's unusually large pupils, unusual jaw movements and difficulty speaking clearly.
The report says that while many parents are familiar with the availability of cannabis and have heard about ketamine, fewer may realise how widespread cocaine use has reportedly become among university students.
A Loughborough University study involving students from 54 institutions reportedly found that 24 per cent had used cocaine. Professor Harry Sumnall, who specialises in substance use at Liverpool John Moores University, said cocaine is now more widely available, more potent and relatively affordable compared with many other products.
Although cocaine is classified as a Class A drug in Britain and possession can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years, Professor Sumnall said some young people no longer perceive it as particularly dangerous. He explained that some young adults see it differently from drugs that have stronger associations with addiction and dependence.
Archie, a 20-year-old student from London who was preparing to enter his final year at a northern university, told the newspaper that cocaine was common within his social circle. He said some students used it while drinking because they believed it helped them remain awake and socialise for longer.
Archie also said that some young people who experienced social isolation during the Covid-19 restrictions found meeting new people difficult. He claimed cocaine made him feel more confident when socialising. He also considered it relatively affordable compared with alcohol.
Although Fiona said Zoe had not previously shown an interest in drugs, Archie said he had experimented with cannabis and ketamine while still at school. He said cocaine had been largely absent from his experience until he entered university, where he found it much easier to encounter in student bars and clubs.
Archie said he now used cocaine on many weekends and generally did not consider his consumption a serious problem. However, he admitted that he often experienced anxiety and felt unwell the day after taking it.
The report contrasts this attitude with warnings from addiction specialists. The Priory Group says combining cocaine with alcohol can be particularly dangerous and may contribute to blackouts, impaired vision, vomiting, alcohol poisoning, aggression, anxiety and paranoia.
Fiona said she had noticed that Zoe had become more anxious, moody and tired after starting university. She initially believed these changes were caused by the pressures of adapting to a new environment and living away from home. Zoe had also lost weight, which the report identifies as another possible consequence of cocaine use because the drug can suppress appetite.
Fiona said she regretted not recognising the changes earlier. Professor Sumnall warned that cocaine can have a significant effect on mental health and wellbeing, even when it is used relatively infrequently, particularly among vulnerable young people.
The report cites a 2023 study of UK students published in Brain Sciences, which linked anxiety, depression, perceived stress and insomnia with increased reports of substance use, including cocaine.
Professor Sumnall also said drug use can involve risky decisions and impulsive behaviour that may expose young people to danger. A 2021 study involving 3,520 UK university students reportedly found associations between cocaine use and riskier sexual behaviour, lower academic grades and several psychological or emotional difficulties.
The report also highlights deaths associated with cocaine use. It states that cocaine-related fatalities across all age groups had increased by 14.4 per cent since 2023. It gives examples of university students who died following cocaine use, including Oxford University student Daniel Mervis, who died from an overdose in 2021 after developing an addiction during his first year, and Bristol University student Lucy White, who died in 2018 at the age of 24 after suffering a heart attack following cocaine use.
Cocaine-related hospital admissions have also reportedly increased, with mental health admissions connected to the drug said to have tripled over a ten-year period ending in 2018.
The report attributes part of the growing availability to the expansion of the illegal cocaine market. United Nations figures cited by the newspaper indicate that global illicit cocaine production increased by 34 per cent in 2023 to a record 3,708 tonnes. European Union data cited in the report also indicates that cocaine was 44 per cent purer in 2023 than it was in 2014.
Following the late-night FaceTime call, Fiona said she remained awake for much of the night in fear for her daughter. She wanted to travel to the university immediately but said the journey was about five hours away and she was not a confident driver.
The following day, Fiona and Zoe spoke honestly on the phone. Zoe initially denied taking drugs but eventually broke down and admitted that she had first tried cocaine during Freshers Week.
Fiona then began looking back at changes in her daughter's behaviour. During Zoe's first term, she had initially called home regularly, but those calls became less frequent. Fiona said Zoe increasingly contacted her mainly to request money. Fiona had assumed the money was needed for normal student expenses but later realised some of it had supported Zoe's growing cocaine use.
According to Fiona, Zoe's drug use increased after she began dating Leo. His relatively wealthy group of friends reportedly regarded cocaine as part of their regular nightlife. Zoe did not usually purchase the drug herself but obtained it through Leo's friends, who reportedly sourced it through social media contacts or other acquaintances.
Professor Sumnall said some young people may feel more comfortable obtaining drugs through friends or friends of friends because they believe this reduces the risks associated with buying directly.
Archie described a similar experience, saying that although he had previously tried cannabis and ketamine, he had rarely encountered cocaine before university. He said student bars and clubs made it easier for students to find people who could supply it.
The report also cites research indicating that peer influence plays a role in drug use among some students. The SOS report reportedly found that 44 per cent of respondents believed students took drugs to fit in with their peers, while 12 per cent said they had personally tried drugs because people around them were using them.
Zoe told her mother that she had found it difficult to fit into a university environment where many students came from private-school backgrounds. Fiona said this made her recall her own experiences among wealthy City professionals when she was younger.
By the time of the nightclub phone call, Fiona said Zoe had been using cocaine several times during most weekends. Zoe was reportedly experiencing low mood, anxiety and exhaustion and had begun feeling that taking more of the drug was the only way to feel better.
When Zoe returned home, Fiona considered asking her to remain there and leave university because she feared her daughter's condition could deteriorate. However, Zoe wanted to continue her studies and agreed to seek help from the university's student wellbeing team.
Zoe began attending weekly support sessions on campus and was also able to contact the team when she needed assistance. Fiona described the support as an important part of helping her daughter regain control of her life.
Fiona also began visiting Zoe more frequently and paying closer attention to her wellbeing. Zoe eventually ended her relationship with Leo and developed a healthier circle of friends who did not use drugs. Fiona said her daughter's lifestyle subsequently changed significantly, with occasional drinks at the student bar becoming her main form of socialising.
As Zoe prepared to begin her second year, Fiona said she felt much more reassured about her daughter's safety. She hoped that sharing their experience would encourage other parents to take noticeable changes in their children's behaviour seriously.
Fiona acknowledged that parents face a difficult balance when their children leave home because they must allow them to become independent while remaining attentive to possible problems. She said she regretted not questioning Zoe more closely when her behaviour began changing, although she had wanted to respect her daughter's independence.
Fiona said she now believes cocaine and other drugs can pose serious risks, particularly for young people who are living away from home for the first time. She considers Zoe fortunate that she was able to receive help before suffering an even more serious consequence.
