The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released its 2024 World Drug Report, offering a detailed analysis of the current global drug situation. The report highlights the increasing complexity of drug production, trafficking, and consumption, painting a grim picture of the associated violence, suffering, and environmental damage.
Key findings include a surge in cocaine production, particularly in Latin America, with expanding markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The report also underscores the growing menace of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, causing significant harm in various regions, including North America and South-West Asia. The opium ban in Afghanistan, while aimed at curbing drug production, has severely impacted the livelihoods of farmers, necessitating urgent humanitarian aid.
Special chapters address critical issues such as the opium ban’s impact, the high prevalence of synthetic drug use among women, and the intricate relationship between drug trafficking and organized crime in the Golden Triangle. Notably, the report introduces a new chapter on the right to health in the context of drug use, advocating for comprehensive, voluntary, and non-discriminatory drug treatment and care, particularly for women who face heightened stigma and discrimination.
The report calls for strategic justice interventions to target key players in the drug trade and stresses the importance of socioeconomic strategies to dismantle drug economies by addressing root causes like poverty and insecurity. By shedding light on these trends and challenges, the UNODC aims to provide a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in shaping effective responses to the global drug problem, ultimately safeguarding health, safety, and dignity for all.
Along with the report, UNODC has also posted an interactive Data Portal featuring several data tables regarding drug use and treatment that can be filtered based on specific drug, region, age, etc.
For more information, explore HSDL documents related to global drug use and its In Focus topic on Fentanyl and Opioids.
