316 million people worldwide use drugs - UN

316 million people worldwide use drugs - UN

 

According to a new UN report, 316 million people worldwide used drugs in 2023, 24 million more than in 2022. The most common substance is cannabis (244 million users), followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million) and ecstasy (21 million).

Cocaine production reached 3,708 tons in 2023, an increase of 34%. The number of users of this substance has increased by 8 million in the past 10 years.

UN experts noted that the activities of drug cartels have become a global threat. In 2021, about half a million deaths were recorded from drug-related causes, 28 million healthy years were lost. In 2023, only one in 12 people in need of treatment received the necessary help.