UN Report – Drug use rises, especially where it’s legalised

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published its annual World Drug Report. The most disturbing trend is that by 2030, the number of people using drugs is projected to rise by 11%. The number of cannabis users has increased by nearly 18 per cent over the past decade.

Tellingly the report shows that cannabis use has risen in places where it has been legalised. The Covid lockdowns also increased usage of the drug. Also of concern is that Australia and New Zealand lead the world for prevalence of cocaine in society.

“Cannabis legalization appears to have accelerated the upwards trends in reported daily use of the drug,” the UNODC report said.

Cannabis use is increasing while the cannabis on the market is getting stronger in terms of its THC content. Of concern, fewer young people see it as harmful.

This is all bad news for mental health and suicide rates:

“The proportion of people with psychiatric disorders and suicides associated with regular cannabis use has increased.”

Here are some of the main findings in the World Drug Report:

By 2030, the number of people using drugs is projected to rise by 11%
Cannabis is more potent but fewer young people see it as harmful
Rising web-based sales could transform global drug use patterns
Non-medical use of cannabis and sedatives has increased globally during the Covid-19 pandemic
Drug markets quickly recovered after the onset of the pandemic, but some trafficking dynamics have been accelerated during Covid-19
Roughly 200 million people used cannabis in 2019 representing 4 per cent of the global population
The figure is highest in North America (14.5 per cent) and lowest in Asia (2 per cent)
The number of cannabis users has increased by nearly 18 per cent over the past decade
Cocaine – The prevalence rate of use was the highest in Oceania (2.7 per cent), mainly reflecting the situation in the sub-region Australia and New Zealand, and the lowest in Asia (0.07 per cent)