The use of amphetamines has seen a sharp rise in Merseyside, as figures reveal it is one of the most popular drugs in the region, after cannabis.
Merseyside Police seized 20 times more amphetamines in 2019/20 compared with the year before
The figures suggest the stimulants - which include speed - have replaced cocaine as the most popular drug in the area, apart from cannabis.
Cannabis still remains the most popular drug in the region though, but the newly released figures suggests the use of stimulants, which include speed, is on the up.
The latest figures from the Home Office revealed a total of 88kg of amphetamines were seized by police in Merseyside in 2019/20 - up massively from 4kg seized the year before.
That’s enough for nearly 1.8 million typical 50mg “doses” of amphetamines - or more than one for every person living in Merseyside.
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In 2019/20, police in Merseyside seized 25kg of cocaine - up from 13kg the year before, and the equivalent of 500,000 typical 50mg doses.
Although the use of amphetamines is rising, cannabis remains the most popular drug in Merseyside - and around the world.
A total of 88kg of herbal cannabis, 20kg of cannabis resin and 26,064 cannabis plants were seized by police in the area in 2019/20.
Police also seized 12kg of ketamine (more than anywhere else in the country), 8kg of heroin, 4kg of crack, 155,000 doses of LSD and 2,000 ecstasy pills in the last year, among other drugs.
While the quantities of drugs seized in an area don’t always reflect the amount of drugs being taken, they give a good indication of their popularity.
Nationally, cocaine is the most popular drug, after cannabis.
Across England and Wales, 519kg of cocaine was seized by police in the last year - or enough for one “dose” for every six people.
A further 3,755kg of cocaine was seized by the UK Border Force from people attempting to smuggle it into the country.
However, the figures show an interesting north/south divide when it comes to drugs.
While cocaine is generally the most popular drug, northern communities appear more likely to favour amphetamines.
