Cocaine and Crack Use Rises Across Brazil, Hitting São Paulo and Rio Hardest

A recent study from the Federal University of São Paulo shows that 6.6% of Brazilians—about 11.4 million people—have tried cocaine or crack at least once. This number has grown since 2012, when only 4.4% of people reported using these drugs.

Researchers gathered this information in 2023 by talking to over 16,000 people in 300 cities across Brazil. The study did not include people living on the streets, so the real number of users could be even higher.

Cocaine and crack are not just a health issue in Brazil. They also create big problems for the country’s economy and safety. Most crack users are young men, many with little education, and many have experienced homelessness or time in jail.

Crack is cheap and easy to find in poor neighborhoods, which makes it even harder to control. The Southeast region of Brazil, where São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located, is the main area for cocaine use and trafficking.

These cities have busy airports and ports that help move drugs both inside the country and to other parts of the world. In 2023, police reported almost 182,000 cocaine trafficking cases and seized about 129,000 kilograms of cocaine.

Even with these efforts, the drug trade remains strong. The violence and crime linked to drugs also keep growing. By the end of 2023, Brazil had 850,000 people in prison, with over 205,000 locked up for drug crimes in just the first half of 2024.

This costs the country millions of dollars every month. Drug trafficking also hurts local businesses and scares away investors. It creates unsafe neighborhoods, especially in poorer areas, and makes daily life more difficult for many families.

The facts from this official study show that Brazil’s cocaine and crack problem is not just about health—it affects the economy, safety, and future of the country. These numbers and details come from official research and government data, with no information made up or changed.