United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report

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  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report

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Highlights -

1. Around 26.9 crore people used drugs in 2018, which was 30% more than the 2009 figure, with adolescents and young adults accounting for the largest share of users.
2. If we compare the findings with earlier estimates from a survey carried out in 2004, overall opioid use in India is estimated to have increased fivefold.

Seizures quadrupled -

1. Seizures of amphetamines across the world quadrupled between 2009 and 2018.
2. The stimulant scenario is dominated by cocaine and methamphetamine, and use of both the substances is rising in their main markets.
3. Production of heroin and cocaine remains among the highest levels recorded in modern times.
4. Around 19 million people used cocaine in 2018, fueled by the drug’s popularity in North America and Western Europe.
5. Around 27 million people used amphetamines in 2018 – it remained the most used amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) in Southeast Asia.

Expanding markets -

1. A number of indicators suggest that the global market of ATS, particularly meth, is expanding.
2. Quantities of seized methamphetamine...reached a new record high, at 228 tonne-equivalents, in 2018.
3. While the amount of opiates intercepted in Russia fell by roughly 80% from 2008 to 2018, evidence suggested that meth and various cathinones were now widely available there.
4. Crystalline meth market has grown in Afghanistan and Iraq, emerging as a main drug apart from captagon and tramadol.
5. The large seizures effected in other countries of methamphetamine thought to originate in Afghanistan also suggest that production in that country is rising fast.
6. Designer chemicals: As per the report, traffickers and manufacturers were using “designer chemicals” as an alternative to synthesise amphetamine, meth and ecstasy.
7. Cause of concern: There is a concern about fewer countries taking part in joint drug operations, apparently due to budgetary problems following the 2008 financial crisis, other challenges with international cooperation, including a lack of agreements to enable operational cooperation, and language problems.

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