The number of people taking cocaine is on the increase with sedqa's Drugs Commission Services treating 39 new cases of cocaine abuse last year.

Foundation for Welfare Services chief executive officer Sina Bugeja said this morning that 26 new cases had been treated in 2007.

Sedqa's clinical director George Grech said that the number of new drug users this year is expected to be even higher than in 2008. He said that cocaine was no longer a recreational drug.

Speaking during the launch of an awareness campaign for professionals in the field and the public, Ms Bugeja said that according to the European schools survey on alcohol and other drugs, more cocaine was taken by 15 and 16 year old Maltese than by students of other nationalities.

The campaign should inform addicts and their families of the harm cocaine caused and urge victims to seek help from sedqa.

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