UNODC released Annual World Drug Report (2024)

Posted 27 Jun 2024

2 min read

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the report on World Drug Day (or International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking).

Since 1987 the UN observes World Drug Day on June 26th to increase action in achieving a drug-free world.

Key highlights of the report

Rise in drug abuse: In the decade to 2022, the number of people using illicit drugs increased to 292 million.
Most abused drugs: Cannabis followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy.
Most affected regions:Criminal activity and trafficking are common in remote regions with multiple borders and limited governance such as:
- Triple Frontier area (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) and Golden Triangle (Laos Myanmar and Thailand).
Cannabis legalisation: Cannabis was legalised across Canada, Uruguay, and 27 jurisdictions in the US.
- THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is believed to be the main ingredient behind the psychoactive effect of the drug.
Environmental fallout: Illegal drug-related activities contribute to deforestation, toxic waste dumping, and chemical contamination.

Initiatives against use of illicit drugs

Global

Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was established by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution in 1946.
UNODC was established in 1997 to address the interrelated issues of drug control, crime and international terrorism in all its forms.
UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.
UN Decade Against Drug Abuse (1991-2000)

India

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPA), 1985