GLOBAL DRUG USE SOARS: 292 MILLION USERS REPORTED IN 2022

Fri 28 June 2024:

The number of global drug users reached 292 million in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In its World Drug Report 2024, which compiled data from 2022, the UNODC noted that one in 18 people worldwide aged 15-64 used drugs in that year.

Cannabis was the most used drug with 228 million users, followed by opioids (60 million), amphetamines (30 million), cocaine (23.5 million), and ecstasy (20 million).

The report highlighted a significant rise in drug-related health issues, with 64 million people affected in 2022. Only one in 11 individuals with such problems received treatment, with women being particularly disadvantaged, having an even lower rate of one in 18.

Access to health services varied significantly by region, with 49% of South American patients receiving treatment, compared to just 4% in Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

Fatal Health Problems and Injection Drug Use

The report also addressed the fatal health consequences of drug use, revealing that 13.9 million people injected drugs in 2022, with 1.6 million living with HIV, 1.4 million with both HIV and hepatitis C, and 6.8 million with hepatitis C alone. Liver diseases from hepatitis C accounted for more than half of drug-related deaths.

Cocaine Market and Opium Production Shifts

The global cocaine supply and demand surged, with coca cultivation reaching 354,900 hectares and a record 2,757 tons of cocaine produced in 2022, a 20% increase from the previous year. The cocaine market, traditionally focused in Western and Central Europe and the US, is rapidly expanding to developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Southeast Europe.

In contrast, illegal opium production in Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer, dropped by 95% in 2023 compared to 2022, attributed to the Taliban’s 2022 ban on opium. This led to a 74% global decrease in opium production, while Myanmar’s production increased by 36%.

Seizures and Legal Actions

In 2022, security forces seized significant quantities of drugs, including 2,027 tons of cocaine, 1,194 tons of cannabis resin, and 6,168 tons of cannabis seeds. Additionally, 572 tons of opium, 165 tons of pharmaceutical opioids, 76 tons of heroin, 22 tons of morphine, and 536 tons of synthetic drugs were confiscated.

Approximately 7 million people faced police intervention for drug offenses in 2022, with 2.7 million prosecuted and 1.6 million sentenced to prison. A total of 2.7 million people were tried for drug-related offenses, resulting in 1.7 million convictions.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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