United Nations World Drugs Report 2021

In News

According to the World Drug Report 2021, around 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the year 2020.

About

• The report was released by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
• The report said that drugs referred to as substances controlled under international drug control conventions and their non-medical use.

Key Findings Of The Report

• Around 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders.
• About 5.5% of those between 15 and 64 have used drugs at least once in the past year, while 36.3 million people, or 13% of the total number of people who use drugs, suffer from drug use disorders.
• Many countries saw a rise in the use of cannabis during the coronavirus pandemic. 
  • In the last 24 years, cannabis potency has increased by four times in some parts of the globe.
  • In surveys of health professionals across 77 countries, 42% said cannabis use had increased.
  • Non-medical use of cannabis and sedatives has increased globally during the pandemic.
  • Cannabis is more potent but fewer young people see it as harmful.
• Rising web-based sales could transform global drug use patterns.
• The number of drug users in Africa is projected to rise by 40 per cent by 2030.
• Covid-19 has triggered innovation in drug prevention and treatment services.
• Drug markets quickly recovered after the onset of the pandemic, but some trafficking dynamics have been accelerated during Covid-19.
• Covid-19 fallout is likely to be felt in drug markets for years to come.

Major Concerns

• The illicit drug trade also continues to hold back economic and social development, while disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable and marginalized.
• Eliminating stigmatization and discrimination and providing adequate treatment, as seven in eight people who suffer from drug use disorders remain without the appropriate care.
• Regulating cryptocurrency markets and monitoring electronic payments to detect suspicious transactions and illicit financial flows from drug trafficking is a difficult task.
• Promoting science-based interventions is an absolute necessity if we are to reduce the demand and supply of drugs.

Way Forward

• Fostering international cooperation: Foster international cooperation for fighting the enduring problem of drug trafficking. The development of international accountability mechanisms and best practices would greatly increase interception capacity. 
• Global monitoring: Enhance expert access to the dark web in order to take down online markets and platforms. Implement real-time data monitoring systems for promptly detecting and addressing drug market changes. 
• People-centred Approach: Implement an integrated, people-centred and human-rights based approach to empowering African societies to develop sustainable solutions to drug use.
• Adaptations: Maintain COVID-19 adaptations to the delivery of drug-related services in order to increase accessibility and coverage of services.  
• Public-private partnerships: Improve government response to drug trafficking on the internet by forging public/private partnerships with internet service providers, tech companies, shipping and mailing companies. Prioritise public health over private business through a comprehensive ban on advertising.
• Awareness-raising and communication: Use fact-based information to raise awareness of the potential harm from non-medical use of cannabis. Need to close the gap between perception and reality by educating young people and safeguarding public health.
• Evidence-based prevention of drug use: Sufficient funding for drug use prevention and treatment responses needs to be allocated in national post-COVID-19 budgets to avoid an acceleration of the increase in the use of certain drugs observed during the pandemic. 

Sources: TH