A multi-agency crime prevention operation in the night-time economy is increasing awareness about the consequences of consuming alcohol and cocaine together.
Operation Cognition was launched by Nottinghamshire Police after neighbourhood officers began receiving anecdotal information that cocaine use was an increasing issue in Newark’s night-time economy.
When alcohol and cocaine are mixed it causes a toxic psychoactive substance to form in the body, known as cocaethylene, which can increase impulsive, violent, and aggressive behaviour.
It can also increase the risk of fatal heart attacks, strokes, and seizures.
Officers began this multi-agency preventative work in the night-time economy to educate members of the public about cocaethylene, to offer healthcare support, and to collate data to monitor awareness of the substance.
Plain-clothes officers and community protection staff are joined by clinicians from substance misuse organisations including Nottingham Recovery Network and Change Grow Live to engage with the public about the risks of using cocaine and alcohol and, where appropriate, refer people into further support.
This provides members of the public the platform to discuss their concerns or drug use with healthcare professionals in confidence, which allows them to be more open and comfortable.
Officers and public health professionals hand out leaflets warning of the dangers of combining the two substances and invite members of the public to complete a cocaethylene questionnaire.
The engagement events include roving patrols and a static stall in high footfall areas that allows individuals to engage in conversation and complete a questionnaire detailing their understanding of cocaethylene, their personal drug use, and their knowledge of public drug use.
The first Operation Cognition patrol took place in December 2022, with engagement events taking place throughout 2023. The initiative is ongoing, with further patrols set to take place in October and November this year.
The operation’s success at breaking down barriers, challenging stigma, and providing support to those who need it has meant the initiative has since been rolled out in Mansfield and Nottingham city centre.
In August, the force launched a partnership with Nottingham Forest, Mansfield Town, and Notts County to begin displaying awareness material in football stadiums this season, with engagement stalls taking place outside and at railway stations.
This is in addition to county-wide enforcement operations targeting and disrupting the supply and distribution of drugs.
Operation Cognition and the awareness of cocaethylene has also been expanded to domestic abuse support groups, education providers, and GP surgeries so that partner organisations know the signs to look out for and can offer appropriate support.
Sergeant Rob Harrison, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Newark neighbourhood policing team, developed the operation alongside officers from the integrated offender management team.
He said: “This long-term operation is about awareness – we want people to say that they have heard of cocaethylene.
“Our pink tabards have proved to be a really effective tool for engaging with the public, as it is a great conversation starter early in the evening.
“This is a long-term crime prevention matter and we’ve seen great uptake from the public. If you educate people about the risks of cocaethylene, you can reduce crime.
“It is an unfortunate reality that reasonably healthy people are experiencing health complications or become involved with aggressive and violent behaviour as a result of combining alcohol and cocaine.
“We can prevent this, and protect partners who can be subject to abuse, by raising awareness and ultimately reducing the prevalence of cocaethylene.
“We want to change the behaviour and mindset of future generations, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to reduce harm and make Nottinghamshire a safer place to live and work.”
• Police operation targeting Nottinghamshire football fans’ combined use of alcohol and cocaine
