A man in his forties orders a few grams of cocaine from his sofa via an encrypted app. A regular user of "chemsex" consumes several synthetic drugs to amplify the effects. Their profiles have nothing in common, but they illustrate a reality that worries magistrates and police: in Paris, overdoses are skyrocketing.
A wide variety in the profile of the victims
“ The image we have of an overdose is still the syringe, the heroin, the person we find in the street, the marginal aspect »" while "« Drugs are consumed by ordinary people, and they are very easy to find.«" , summarizes Divisional Commissioner Guillaume Batigne, head of the narcotics brigade at the police headquarters, to AFP.
When questioned by AFP, the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, stated that…'an explosion of overdoses in the Paris region«", a phenomenon"« particularly alarming“.
Whereas in 2025, 30 deaths had been recorded, «"As of September 28, 59 have already been recorded, almost double the number."«According to Magistrate Marion Py, the overdose specialist in the section responsible for combating narcotics at the prosecutor's office, this figure is expected to rise rapidly.”, «"several toxicological analysis results"» being in progress.
The profile of the victims is very diverse, including men, women, and also younger people, notes Mr. Batigne, emphasizing that in 2026 the victims are aged between 16 and 54 years old.
DEFINISHING : Chemsex is a sexual practice between men using psychoactive substances to remove disinhibitions and enhance libido and sensations.
Nearly half of all fatal overdoses involve synthetic drugs.
“ All socio-professional categories are represented«", and all the «"ages"», observes Marion Py. The contexts of consumption are « very varied »": alone at home, in a hotel, at a friend's house, at a party, but also during evenings out"« chemsex«", involving the consumption of drugs in groups for the purpose of having sexual relations. According to the commissioner, "chemsex" is thus linked to approximately one third of the victims.
Read also From chemsex to party drugs: addiction and dangers of synthetic cathinones
Generally speaking, "« What users are looking for is the euphoric, stimulating, performance-enhancing, disinhibiting effect«" he emphasizes.
Approximately half of fatal overdoses involve cocaine, amid seizures. «"exponential"», Ms. Beccuau points out. This is often taken with other products such as synthetic drugs, according to Ms. Py and Mr. Batigne, who refer to a phenomenon of «"polyconsumption"».
According to the commissioner, nearly half of fatal overdoses involve synthetic drugs, such as 3-MMC, 2-MMC, Alpha-PVP or «"Monkey Dust"», has «"The stimulant effect is much stronger"».
Consumption is facilitated by «"The very rapid development in the Paris region in recent years of call centers: consumers can contact someone to have various and sundry narcotics delivered."», without needing to go to a drug dealing spot, explains Ms. Py.
This increased accessibility intensifies competition to retain users, through marketing that leverages cultural references (video games, pop culture, etc.), explains Mr. Batigne. All this with a growing emphasis on product purity. «"The percentage rose to 75% or 80%"» for some cocaines, compared to around 50% a decade ago.
Normalization of consumption and underestimation of risks
Faced with overdoses, the Paris prosecutor's office intends to investigate and punish the entire chain, relying on the "overdose" group of the narcotics brigade, composed of eight investigators.
Behind the "central offices" lies an entire organization: order managers, storage managers, couriers, logistics experts, delivery drivers…
The objective: to find the delivery person of the lethal dose and then trace the network back to the call center, so that the people involved can be tried for aggravated manslaughter, explain Ms. Py and Mr. Batigne.
But magistrates and police officers also insist on prevention, denouncing a form of "« trivialization» consumption and a "« underestimation of risks«Overdose deaths devastate loved ones and families,« recalls Ms. Beccuau, who has implemented a systematic referral process to the association.« Paris Victim Assistance »"To accompany them.".
Users« They have no perception of the dangers of the products they consume.«", notes the prosecutor, highlighting the paradox, in certain circles, of finding narcotics and organic products in the kitchen during searches.
The prosecutor's office wishes to undertake prevention and communication initiatives, in particular in conjunction with the Paris mayor's office and the police headquarters.« Using drugs is like playing Russian roulette«", the commissioner considers.
English 
French