Drug addict air freshener warning

Up to 46,000 Londoners use crack cocaine, research shows

Drug addicts are mixing crack with fluid from plug-in air fresheners before injecting it into their veins, a conference has been told.

Speaking at the London event for treatment workers, Aidan Gray of drug charity Rugby House said although rare the practice could be very harmful.

Alcohol in the perfumed mixture allows the drug to dissolve making a solution.

A report published in September showed one in 100 Londoners aged 15 to 44 is using the highly-addictive drug.

'Huge hit'

Mr Gray told delegates: "You get people who may want to combine substances in needles - but it is very rare.

"Injecting alcohol intravenously gives a huge hit, and if you combine it with cocaine or crack it's even bigger."

Addicts have long been using drinking alcohol such as whisky to dissolve crack or cocaine but a few are now seeking plug-in air fresheners for the perfume-alcohol fluid.

Research based on data from drug centres, hospitals and police arrests found crack cocaine is being used by up to 46,000 Londoners, a much higher figure than previously thought.

The study by researchers from Imperial College and Bristol University was published in the Society for the Study of Addiction two months ago.