Please change to our global website
Update your location to view content relevant to your location.
New: Vaping Express Programme

4 short videos that give you everything you need to quit vaping

New: Vaping Express Programme

4 short videos that give you everything you need to quit vaping

Learn more

Recreational drug users have higher risk of strokes

Explore an in-depth study revealing the link between recreational drug use and increased stroke risk, with 122% higher risk among amphetamine users. Read more now.

2 minute read

Ready to stop?

If you are ready to be free, click here to find the right programme for you. From US$274

Choose the right programme for you
Share this article

Recreational drug use: Unveiling the increased risk of stroke

Scientists have analysed medical data from over 100 million individuals, and the findings are alarming. The risk of experiencing a stroke was found to be 122% higher for users of amphetamines and 96% higher for cocaine users, compared to those who did not consume these substances.

The Under-55 group has the most concerning impact

Interestingly, the increased stroke risk linked to substance use is not confined to older individuals. When scientists focused on under-55s, they discovered an almost threefold increase in stroke risk among amphetamine users. While the additional risk for cannabis users was a more modest 14%, the risk from cocaine usage remained relatively high at 97%.

Global recreational drug use & stroke occurrence

Strokes, which are a leading cause of mortality and disability globally, occur when blood vessels in the brain become blocked or rupture. Over 7 million people lose their lives to strokes annually, and millions more are left with permanent disabilities. In light of these startling figures, the increased use of recreational drugs worldwide over the past decade is a cause for concern.

Factors influencing stroke risk

So why do these substances increase stroke risk? Amphetamines and cocaine can dramatically increase blood pressure and constrict blood vessels in the brain, hence explaining the increased risk of bleeds and blockages.

Cocaine can also accelerate atherosclerosis – a condition where cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in arteries, promoting their hardening and narrowing.

Comment by Allen Carr’s Easyway

At Allen Carr’s Easyway, we look to help individuals overcome their addiction, offering guidance, support, and programmes that can indeed lead to a better, healthier lifestyle.

Quit drugs

 

 


What programme is right for you?

Both programmes are a form of spoken therapy delivered in simple English with no scare stories or images.

Both cover the illusions of the addiction/issue, question your beliefs, provide insights into why you think as you do, shows you how to gain freedom and changes the way you will think about the addiction/issue so that you can leave free without any feeling of loss or battle of wills.


The 1-2-1 seminars are a live one-day course delivered by trained therapists, all of whom stopped with the method. They are delivered either online via Zoom or at a centre and are one to one seminars. There are shorter booster seminars that are different to the first seminar for the few that require them. There is also a money-back guarantee.


The online video is a pre-recorded programme that can be streamed to your device. There are version for quitting cannabis or cocaine and are all presented by a therapist who has helped thousands of people to freedom. They can be accessed anywhere and at anytime.

Choose the right programme for you

References:

Sample, Ian. “Recreational Drugs Can More Than Double Risk of Stroke, Study Suggests.” The Guardian, 9 Mar. 2026.
[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/08/recreational-drugs-can-more-than-double-the-risk-of-stroke-study-suggests]

Choose the right programme for you