Jews and cocaine

The Jewish community, says one drug addiction expert, is in denial about the rising use of drugs - particularly cocaine. David Smallwood is head of the addiction treatment program at the Priory in Southgate, which is in an area with a large Jewish population. He has seen a steady upwards trend in cocaine use. He estimates that of the 120 people annually in the overall addiction program around 35 will be Jewish and, of those, around 20 will have used cocaine. Cocaine use is associated with high-powered jobs - and the pressure to be successful among parts of the Jewish community can create anxiety.