The mortality rate in Spain appears to be heavily impacted by cocaine. In fact, according to a post in Science Daily, more than three percent of all sudden deaths in south-west Spain are related to the use of cocaine.

Forensic pathologists believe these findings can apply to much of the rest of Europe as well. Cocaine use appears to be a growing public health problem in Europe. Scientists warn that there is no such thing as “safe” recreational use of small amounts of the drug.

The study examined a series of sudden deaths between 2003 and 2006, investigating the surrounding circumstances. Out of the 668 sudden deaths during this study period, 21 or 3.1 percent were related to cocaine use. Of those deaths, they were all men between the age of 21 and 45. In addition, most cocaine-related deaths were due to problems with the heart and its related systems.

Leader of the study, Dr. Joaquín Lucena, MD PhD, Head of the Forensic Pathology Service at the Institute of Legal Medicine (Seville, Spain), said: "Our findings show that cocaine use causes adverse changes to the heart and arteries that then lead to sudden death."

According to data taken from the sample, 81 percent of the men who died after cocaine use also smoked and another 76 percent had drunk alcohol. Ethanol is the intoxicating ingredient in alcohol and it also enhances the high obtained from cocaine. Ethanol also minimizes the subsequent low.

At the same time, both smoking and alcohol are associated with heart disease. Dr. Lucena noted, "The combination of cocaine with either or both of these habits can be considered as a lethal cocktail that promotes the development of premature heart disease."