889 kg of cocaine seized in Luxembourg

Cocaine use is no longer confined to the rich and powerful - it is now prevalent in all social strata. As Luxembourg authorities report a record 889kg of cocaine seizures, experts warn of a sharp rise in addiction.

According to Grégory Lambrette, chief psychologist at the Quai 57 centre, the number of addicts from different professional and social backgrounds is increasing. A similar trend can be observed in all Western countries.

Italian journalist Roberto Saviano in his book "ZeroZeroZeroZero: How Cocaine Rules the World" argues that today's high-voltage society can no longer function without cocaine. According to him, both caretakers and top Wall Street executives use it.

Many people are convinced they are in control of their addiction, but the transition from occasional use to substance abuse is gradual. According to Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the number of patients undergoing treatment for cocaine addiction has tripled in Germany.

Psychologists explain that addiction is not a weakness of will, but a withdrawal suppression mechanism. Cocaine destroys the cardiovascular system, damages the brain and impairs mental health. In doing so, many chronic users are caught in a vicious cycle: mental health problems lead to use, and use leads to more mental health problems.

The problem isn't just health, it's economic: addiction hits the health care system, the court system, and results in lost productivity.

Gregory Lambre, in a commentary for L'Essentiel, emphasises that investing in health and prevention is more profitable than dealing with the consequences. Studies show that prevention programmes bring more benefits than costs. An effective fight against addiction must include not only repression, but also therapeutic and preventive strategies.