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UNODC World Drug Report 2024
Context:
Global drug use has surged, reaching 292 million users worldwide in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade, as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Key Highlights of the Report:
- Global Increase: Drug users worldwide reached 292 million in 2022, a 20% increase over the past decade.
- Most Abused Drugs: Cannabis (228 million users), opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users), ecstasy (20 million users).
- Low Treatment Rates: Only one in 11 people with drug use disorders receives treatment; only one in 18 women receive treatment compared to one in seven men.
- Gender Disparities: Women face significant barriers to treatment, receiving much less access than men.
Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime:
- Empowering Crime: Drug trafficking empowers organised crime groups diversifying into wildlife trafficking, financial fraud, and illegal resource extraction.
- Environmental Fallout: Drug production and trafficking contribute to deforestation, toxic waste dumping, and chemical contamination.
- Golden Triangle: Traffickers in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle are integrating into other illegal markets, affecting displaced, poor, and migrant communities.
- Afghanistan’s Impact: Global opium production fell by 74% in 2023 due to a 95% decrease in Afghanistan’s opium production, with long-term implications for heroin purity and opiate treatment demand.
- Record Production: Cocaine production reached a record 2,757 tons in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021, leading to increased violence and health problems.
- Legalisation Effects: Legalisation in Canada, Uruguay, and 27 US jurisdictions has led to higher rates of harmful use and psychiatric issues linked to high-THC cannabis.
International and National Initiatives:
- Global Efforts: UN initiatives like the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and UNODC aim to control drug abuse and trafficking.
- Indian Initiatives: Programs like Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) aim to combat drug trafficking and abuse.
India’s Drug Trafficking Issues:
- Geographical Vulnerability: India’s location between the “Golden Crescent” and “Golden Triangle” makes it prone to drug trafficking.
- High Demand: Metropolitan areas like Mumbai and Delhi have high demand for drugs like marijuana and cocaine.
- Corruption and Porous Borders: Corruption and poorly guarded borders facilitate drug smuggling.
Recommendations:
- Comprehensive Strategy: Prevention, treatment, and law enforcement are essential to address drug use and its consequences.
- Community and Evidence-Based Solutions: Communities should foster resilience against drug use and promote evidence-based plans to combat trafficking and organised crime.