• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on 26 June. It aims to enhance action to achieve a drug-free world.
• On this occasion, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual World Drug Report, warning that the number of users is rising along with the increase in trafficking.

Key Points

• The 2024 campaign recognises that effective drug policies must be based on science, research, full respect for human rights, compassion and a deep understanding of the social, economic and health implications of drug use.
• Drug production, trafficking and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality, while harming people's health, safety and well-being.
• The report pointed out that there is an urgent need to provide evidence-based treatment and support to all people affected by drug use, as well as target the illicit drug market and invest more in prevention.

Key points of the World Drug Report 2024

• The emergence of new synthetic opioids and record supply and demand for other drugs have further exacerbated the effects of the world drug problem, leading to a rise in drug use disorders and environmental harm.
• The number of people using drugs is projected to rise to 292 million in 2022, a 20 percent increase over 10 years.
• Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug worldwide with 228 million users.
• It is followed by opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users) and ecstasy (20 million users).
• The report also states that most users around the world, around 228 million users, consume cannabis.
• In addition, nitazine – a group of synthetic opioids that can be even more potent than fentanyl – has recently risen to prominence in many high-income countries, resulting in a rise in overdose deaths.
• It is known that an estimated 64 million people in the world suffer from drug use disorders, but only one in 11 are in treatment.
• Women have less access to treatment than men, where only one in 18 women with drug use disorders receive treatment, while only one in seven men receive treatment.
• In 2022, an estimated 7 million people had formal contact with the police (arrest, caution, warning) for drug-related offences, of which about two-thirds were due to drug use or possession of them for use.
• In addition, 2.7 million people were prosecuted globally for drug-related offences in 2022 and over 1.6 million were convicted, although there are significant differences across regions in relation to the criminal justice response to drug-related offences.

Way Forward

• Protection of health is an internationally recognised human right that belongs to all human beings, regardless of their drug use status or whether the person is imprisoned, detained or incarcerated.
• UNODC calls on governments, organisations and communities to collaborate to create evidence-based plans that can support the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.
• UNODC also calls on communities to “build resilience and promote community-led solutions to drug use”.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAM

• World Drug Day: 26 June
• Theme 2024: The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.

UNODC

• Founded: 1997
• Chief: Executive Director Yuri Fedotov
• Parent organisation: United Nations
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria