Cocaine use widespread among young nightlife participants

A new analysis by the Rockwool Foundation shows that 24 percent of 15- to 25-year-olds active in Denmark’s nightlife have tried cocaine, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Jeanette Østergaard, research professor and development director at the foundation, called the figure “quite shocking.” The study found that while nearly a quarter of young nightlife participants have used cocaine, the rate drops to 7 percent among the broader youth population.

To refine the data, researchers conducted two separate surveys—one targeting nightlife-goers and another the general youth population. Combining the results, they estimate that roughly 9 percent of 15- to 25-year-olds have tried cocaine, with 4 percent using it in the past year.

The findings align with a recent wastewater report from the Danish Health Authority, which shows cocaine levels in Copenhagen’s sewage have doubled over the past decade.

According to Østergaard, frequent nightlife attendance, high alcohol and nicotine use, and male gender correlate with higher cocaine use. After adjustment, an estimated 12 percent of men in the age group have tried cocaine, compared to 5 percent of women. Geography also plays a role, with Copenhagen residents more likely to report use. Older individuals within the 15–25 range are also more likely to have tried the drug.

Østergaard describes the trend as “differentiated normalization”—not widespread among youth generally, but accepted in high-risk environments like nightlife, where participation may even confer status.