UN report highlights rise in global cocaine use, production

A recent report by the United Nations has revealed that the consumption and production of cocaine worldwide is reaching new record highs. The study indicates that approximately 22 million individuals globally used cocaine in 2021, and authorities anticipate this number to continue increasing.

“The world is currently experiencing a prolonged surge in both supply and demand of cocaine, which is now being felt across the globe and is likely to spur the development of new markets beyond the traditional confines,” the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its annual World Drug Report.

The cultivation of coca bushes and the overall production of cocaine also reached unprecedented levels, with Americas experiencing some of the highest concentrations in the global market. Additionally, the report indicated that North America leads the world in the total number of residents injecting drugs, coinciding with a surge in synthetic substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine. In 2021, more than 13 million people worldwide engaged in drug injection, an 18% increase compared to previous estimates.

Drug trafficking has also escalated in regions such as West Africa and the Middle East. Afghanistan, already responsible for 80% of the world’s heroin-linked opium poppy supply, has emerged as a new leading producer of illicit stimulants like methamphetamine — a concerning development for the nation.

“Questions remain regarding the linkages between illegal manufacture of heroin and of methamphetamine (in Afghanistan) and whether the two markets will develop in parallel or whether one will substitute the other,” the UNODC report said.

Overall, global drug users have increased by 23%, and drug-related disorders have risen by 45% over the past decade. Despite this alarming trend, the United Nations report highlights the scarcity of treatment options available to users, with only one in five people having access to professional help.