1. World Drug Report 2011

2. Annual prevalence and number of illicit drug users at the global level, late 1990s-2009/2010
Global illicit drug use remains largely stable, though with somewhat larger ranges due to lack of data from populous countries and regions.

3. Significant regional differences in illicit drug use.
Generally stable drug use trends globally for the main illicit drug categories…
Cannabis remains the most widely consumed illicit drug with an estimated million past-year users.
Significant regional differences in illicit drug use.
Problem drug use stable.
Cannabis is the most widely consumed illicit drug, followed by amphetamines (primarily amphetamine, methamphetamine and methcathinone). The total number of users in the main illicit drug categories mentioned above does not appear to have changed significantly over the last few years. The same is true for the number of ‘problem drug users’ globally which is between 15 and 39 million.
Global annual prevalence rates

4. …though ‘new’ drugs are emerging
Drug markets are dynamic and demand for psychoactive substances is diverse, particularly in developed countries.
Synthetic drugs are evolving most rapidly, though products based on cannabis, cocaine and opiates are also diversifying.
Piperazine
Mephedrone
‘Spice’ (synthetic cannabinoids)
Many of these new substances and/or the precursor chemicals needed to manufacture them are not under international control.
Non-medical use of a range of prescription drugs is increasingly problematic in a number of countries.
In Europe, more than 40 new substances were notified in the early-warning system in 2010, compared to 24 in Piperazine derivatives are often sold as ‘ecstasy’, whereas mephedrone is touted as a legal alternative to amphetamine or cocaine. ‘Spice’ has been marketed as a legal alternative to cannabis, though a number of countries have placed ‘spice’ and similar products under control.

5. Main problem drugs as reflected in treatment demand, by region, 2009 (or latest year available)
Treatment demand reflects problematic drug use and shows distinct regional patterns. While cannabis makes significant contributions to total treatment demand in all regions, it dominates in Africa, and to a lesser extent in Oceania. In Europe and Asia, opioids (particularly heroin) are most problematic, though in some Asian countries, amphetamines account for the largest share of treatment demand. In South America (including the Caribbean and Central America), cocaine is the most problematic illicit drug, accounting for half of all treatment demand, whereas in North America, cannabis, opioids and cocaine account for near equal shares of the total treatment demand.

6. Drug-related deaths and mortality rates
UNODC estimates that there are 104,000 – 263,000 global drug-related deaths annually. Mortality rates differ significantly between regions, with North America and Oceania reporting high rates. For Africa and Asia, in particular, the numbers are highly uncertain as few countries in those regions reported data. Drug-related deaths generally occur among a young age group. About half of drug-related deaths are from overdoses, and for every fatal overdose, European data suggest that there are some non-fatal overdose cases.

7. Slight increase in opium poppy cultivation, while coca cultivation continues to decrease
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan – which accounts for 123,000 of the 195,700 cultivated hectares - remained stable in The global increase was driven by the 20% increase in Myanmar. Global opium production declined strongly due to disease in poppy plants in Afghanistan. For coca cultivation, significant decreases in the area under cultivation in Colombia was only partially offset by increases in Peru and Bolivia. Potential cocaine manufacture followed the same pattern.

8. ATS manufacture is geographically widely dispersed…
The dark purple countries reported at least one incident of ATS manufacture in 2009 or 2010, whereas the light green ones reported such activity in 2008 or before. Most dismantled ATS laboratories worldwide are reported from the United States of America, generally methamphetamine labs.
Methamphetamine is the most widely manufactured ATS.
Amphetamine and ‘ecstasy’ manufacture operations tend to be fewer, but more
sophisticated.

9. …as are ATS seizures
The map only refers to seizures of amphetamines-group substances, which are seized across the world, with the exception of South America. Although it is an ATS, ecstasy is not shown on the map as it is reported as a separate drug category by Member States. If ecstasy were included, significant seizures would be seen in Argentina and Brazil.

10. Seizures of ATS increase from last year as well as in the longer term; stable trends for the other illicit drug categories
Opiates: Vast bulk continues to be seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey.
Cocaine: Most seizures now in South America (decreases in North America and Europe).
ATS: Vast regional differences though methamphetamine increased globally; amphetamine and methamphetamine seized in almost equal quantities.
Cannabis herb: Largest seizure totals in the United States of America and Mexico.
Cannabis resin: North Africa’s share of seizures increase, while West and Central Europe seize less.
The graph shows seizures of the four main illicit drug categories with 1998 as the base year. Seizures of ATS have increased most rapidly (and also saw an increase from 2008 to 2009), whereas the other three categories have clearly increased since 1998 but remained largely stable for the past five years.

11. North America
Significant cultivation of cannabis herb and manufacture of ATS (mainly methamphetamine); some opium poppy cultivation.
Mainly inward drug trafficking.
Large shares of global cannabis herb, ecstasy and amphetamines-group seizures.
Cannabis herb the main drug of consumption.
Some 37% of global cocaine users live in the region, though prevalence rates are declining.
Non-medical use of prescription drugs significant.
High rates of drug-related deaths.

12. Cocaine use decreasing in North America
While the annual prevalence rate of cocaine use in North America is decreasing, the subregion is still home to the 5.7 million cocaine users; more than a third of the global total.
The United States has the highest prevalence rate in the region (2.4%) as well as the largest number of users (5 million people).

13. South America, Central America and the Caribbean
The vast bulk of global coca cultivation and cocaine manufacture; also cannabis cultivation.
Mainly outward trafficking; cocaine to North America and Europe. Some intra-regional cannabis trafficking.
Cocaine seizures have increased over the past few years, and the region accounts for nearly three fourths of global seizures.
Cannabis the most prevalent illicit drug, followed by cocaine, though cocaine use appears to be stabilizing.
Relatively few drug-related deaths.

14. Cocaine seizures increasing in South America
Global cocaine seizures are stable at a high level.
South America’s share of the global total has increased, and is now at some 60% (442 out of 732 tons).
Seizures in the main consumer markets – North America and Europe – have declined.

15. Europe
Significant cannabis herb cultivation (mainly indoor), amphetamine and ecstasy manufacture, though the latter is declining.
Primarily inward illicit drug trafficking.
Half of global cannabis resin seizures and large shares of heroin and amphetamine seizures. Ecstasy seizures have declined.
All illicit drug categories show stable use trends. Cannabis remains the most prevalent substance, followed by ATS (similar numbers of ecstasy and amphetamines users) and cocaine.

16. Stable illicit drug use in West and Central Europe
Cocaine use has increased over the past decade, but is not now stable at the high level. The trend for ecstasy, amphetamines and opiates are largely stable. For cannabis, the annual prevalence rate dropped in 2009, but the trend over the past decade is largely stable, with rates ranging from 6.7 – 7.7 per cent of the adult population.
Trends in annual prevalence, West and Central Europe,

17. Africa
Significant cannabis production; resin (Morocco) and herb (most countries). ATS production may be emerging. Small-scale opium production in Egypt.
Cannabis resin trafficking to Europe; intra-regional trafficking of cannabis herb. Africa is a transit region for cocaine and heroin intended for the European market. Methamphetamine trafficking is also emerging on the continent.
Significant seizures of cannabis resin.
Limited data on drug use and drug-related deaths.
Cannabis accounts for a larger proportion of drug treatment demand than in other regions.

18. Methamphetamine trafficking in Africa
First reports of methamphetamine trafficking from Africa at the end of 2008.
East and South-East Asia are the most common destinations.
Some manufacture reported.
ATS precursor chemicals are frequently trans-shipped through the region.
Africa is significant in the trafficking of other drugs as well. Cannabis resin is trafficked from North Africa (Morocco) to consumer markets in western Europe, often via Spain. South American cocaine is trafficked to Europe via West Africa, and some heroin from Asia is trafficked into eastern Africa for onward distribution.

19. Asia
Most of the world’s opium poppy cultivation and opium production; also significant cannabis cultivation and ATS manufacture (notably methamphetamine).
Outward as well as intra-regional trafficking of opium and heroin.
The majority of the world’s heroin and ATS seizures in 2009 took place in Asia.
Ketamine, a substance outside international control, is a significant problem in East and South-East Asia.
There are large data gaps with regard to illicit drug use in Asia. Cannabis is the most widely consumed drug, though use is lower than in other regions. The amphetamines rank second and use may be increasing.
More than half of the world’s opiate-using population lives in Asia and opiates are almost exclusively reported as the main substance involved in drug-related deaths.

20. Key opiate trafficking routes and volumes, 2009
Cultivation - Afghanistan
Cultivation - Myanmar
Although Myanmar accounts for a relatively small share of global opium poppy cultivation – 38,000 hectares in 2009 – it is increasing there, whereas the trend in Afghanistan is stable. Opiates follow two main routes out of Afghanistan: Through Central Asia into the Russian Federation, and through Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey and South-East Europe into West and Central Europe.

21. Asia accounts for a large share of global amphetamines seizures
The Near and Middle East/South-West Asia dominates global amphetamine seizures, largely due to high levels of Captagon seizures in Saudi Arabia. The content of Captagon tablets is not always clear, but the main psychoactive ingredient is amphetamine. East and South-East Asian seizures of methamphetamine increased significantly in 2009, mainly driven by large seizures in Myanmar. The subregion’s share of the global total of methamphetamine seizures is slightly larger than North America’s.
Amphetamine
Methamphetamine

22. Oceania
Cannabis cultivation, mainly for the herbal product, and some ATS manufacture.
Small seizure totals; ATS seizures have declined, though ecstasy is more prominent than in other regions.
High prevalence rates for most illicit drugs, particularly cannabis and ATS. Only opiates below global average.
Widespread non-medical use of prescription drugs, particularly opioids and amphetamines.
High rate of drug-related deaths, although the rate is based on data from one country only (Australia).
Most of the data for this region comes from the largest country, Australia, where the drug problem is well-studied. Prevalence rates in Australia are higher than the global rate for all illicit drugs except opiates. The annual prevalence of ecstasy use is 10 times the global average (4.2% in Australia, 0.4% globally).