Official Government data showed there were 740 cocaine-induced health emergencies in 2006/07, compared with 161 in 1998/99.

The figures, obtained by Druglink magazine, showed the majority - 629 - were men and the average age of the patients was 29.

It reveals the impact of the drug's growing popularity over the last 10 years.

In comparison, the number of cannabis poisonings fell from 171 to 96 over the same period.

Heroin overdoses also fell from 1,962 to 1,530, and methadone overdoses from 721 to 556, said the magazine, which is published by drugs education charity DrugScope.

Last month, it emerged that the number of people admitted to hospital for drug-related problems - including illegal drugs - has rocketed by more than a third in the last five years.

There were 215,447 drug-related hospital admissions in 2006/07 compared with 161,361 in 2002/03, a 34% rise, Department for Health statistics showed.

These hospital figures did not all relate to the effects of illegal drugs.

Importantly, the total included admissions for other incidents including poisoning by prescription drugs, the toxic effect of detergents and contact with venomous animals.