How to tell if YOUR loved one’s weekend cocaine habit is a secret addiction: It’s the most common lie among middle-class users – these are signs you need to know

Cocaine has long been framed as a weekend drug for social elites. Something recreational. Something occasional. Something controlled.

But addiction specialists say that narrative no longer reflects what they are seeing in clinics.

Behind corporate offices, family homes and polished social media profiles, a growing number of professionals are quietly struggling with cocaine use after their Friday night habit spiralled out of control.

Many are high-achieving, financially stable and outwardly composed.

Dr Chris Davis, a general practitioner and addiction medicine specialist with more than 15 years’ experience treating alcohol and drug dependence across the UK and Australia, is the clinical co-founder of Clean Slate Clinic, Australia’s leading virtual detox and recovery service. He says the profile of people seeking help has changed significantly in recent years.

‘We are seeing a clear increase in high-functioning professionals seeking help for cocaine use that has shifted from recreational to compulsive,’ he says.

‘These are not people who fit outdated stereotypes of addiction. They include executives, business owners, healthcare workers and parents.’

For families and friends, the idea that someone ‘successful’ and ‘put-together’ might be struggling with addiction can feel difficult to reconcile. But the latest global data suggests cocaine use is rampant – especially in Australia.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2025, Australia and New Zealand rank among the highest in the world for per-capita cocaine use among people aged 15 to 64. About three per cent reported using cocaine in 2023.

‘In higher-income circles, cocaine can be socially normalised and financially sustainable in the short term,’ Dr Davis explains.

‘That makes it easier to conceal and easier to rationalise, which often delays recognition and help-seeking.’

The behavioural changes people dismiss

Early cocaine use rarely looks dramatic.

‘Early cocaine use is often misread as stress, ambition or personality,’ Dr Davis says.

You might notice someone becoming unusually energetic or talkative in social settings. They may stay out later with vague explanations or display bursts of confidence that tip into grandiosity.

‘Because cocaine has a short duration of action, people can appear completely normal the next day. That makes the pattern much harder to detect.’

More revealing signs often appear between episodes of use:

• Irritability during comedown periods
• Heightened anxiety mid-week
• Increased secrecy around phone use
• Defensiveness about plans
• Shifts in social circles

These changes can be subtle at first. Increased guardedness, uncharacteristic mood swings, heightened sensitivity when substance use is mentioned, greater risk-taking, and difficulty feeling pleasure or switching off without cocaine are all significant clinical red flags, Dr Davis says.

Physical signs that are easy to overlook

Physical symptoms are often easily explained away.

‘The physical signs can be subtle and transient,’ Dr Davis says.

‘Dilated pupils when affected, reduced appetite, mild weight loss, insomnia, jaw tension and teeth grinding are all common.

‘A persistent runny nose, frequent sniffing or nasal irritation are often dismissed as allergies or colds. In someone who is well-presented and professionally successful, these symptoms are easily explained away as work stress or lifestyle factors.

‘That is one of the reasons cocaine use can remain hidden for a long time.’

A weekend habit or addiction? 

Many people describe themselves as ‘weekend users’. But clinically, frequency alone is not what determines dependency.

‘The key shift is not how often someone uses but whether their use is causing impairment or distress,’ Dr Davis says.

‘If someone is using more than they intended, repeatedly trying and failing to cut down, spending significant time obtaining, using or recovering from cocaine, or continuing despite harm to their health or relationships, that indicates a diagnosable stimulant use disorder.’

He is clear about what matters most.

‘We look less at whether someone only uses on weekends and more at whether there is loss of control or growing psychological reliance.

‘Loss of control is the major giveaway.’

It is not about how often someone uses; it is about whether they still feel able to choose not to.

How dependency presents in professionals

The stereotypes of addiction are well known: financial ruin, broken relationships, even homelessness. But it’s very different with the so-called cocaine class.

‘Public stereotypes focus on visible financial, physical or mental health collapse. In professionals, dependency is often far more concealed,’ Dr Davis says.

‘They may remain employed but performance subtly declines. There may be emotional volatility at home but composure at work. Financial strain is often hidden.

‘The difference is usually in visibility, not severity. The neurobiological impact is the same regardless of income or occupation.’

Financial patterns that can signal a problem

Cocaine use is expensive – especially in Australia, where the going rate for a bag of coke is $300 – and sustained patterns usually leave financial traces.

‘We often see unexplained cash withdrawals, increased discretionary spending, and intense after-work socialising linked to party culture,’ Dr Davis says.

‘There can be productivity spikes followed by noticeable dips and increased sick days after weekends.

‘Sustained use creates significant financial pressure over time, particularly as tolerance builds and patterns escalate.’

Health risks many underestimate

‘There is no completely safe level of cocaine use because of its impact on the cardiovascular system,’ Dr Davis says.

‘Long-term risks include hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, heart attack and stroke. Stroke in particular can cause sudden death even in young and otherwise healthy adults.

‘We also see seizures and chronic nasal septum damage with intranasal use.’

An additional concern is contamination.

‘There have been reports of cocaine adulterated with nitazenes, which are extremely potent opioids, as well as benzodiazepines. That significantly raises the risk of overdose and other unexpected harms.’

The mental health impact

The longer-term psychological effects are significant – and often the biggest tell that someone’s weekend habit has escalated into something dangerous.

‘Chronic cocaine use is strongly associated with anxiety disorders, depressive symptoms – especially during withdrawal phases – and significant sleep disruption,’ Dr Davis says.

‘We also see paranoia, panic attacks and, in some cases, stimulant-induced psychosis, including hallucinations.

‘Over time, cocaine disrupts the dopamine system. That reduces a person’s baseline capacity for pleasure and motivation, which can make everyday life feel flat without the drug.’

How to approach someone you are worried about

If you suspect someone you care about may be struggling, how you raise it matters.

‘It is important to avoid accusations, stigmatising language or moral judgement,’ Dr Davis says.

‘Labelling someone an “addict” or delivering ultimatums in anger will usually shut the conversation down.

‘Confronting someone while they are intoxicated is rarely productive. A more effective approach is to choose a calm private moment and use I statements. For example, “I have noticed you seem stressed and not sleeping much,” or, “I am worried about you.”

‘Focus on the person’s wellbeing rather than the substance. Be specific about behaviours you have observed and offer support in accessing professional help. Show them you care.

‘Framing the conversation around health rather than blame reduces defensiveness and increases the likelihood of honesty.’

He is clear about how substance use disorders should be understood.

‘Substance use disorders are health conditions, not character flaws. Early intervention, like having these caring conversations, significantly improves outcomes, particularly for professionals who still have strong protective factors such as employment and family support.’

Support

If you or someone you know needs support:

• Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS): 1800 250 015
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Recovery is possible. Early support makes a difference.

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