{"id":17665,"date":"2024-08-04T17:14:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T16:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=17665"},"modified":"2024-10-05T15:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-05T14:11:57","slug":"unodc-world-drug-day-2024-report-highlights-spike-in-drug-use-increased-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2024\/08\/unodc-world-drug-day-2024-report-highlights-spike-in-drug-use-increased-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"UNODC World Drug Day 2024 &#8211; report highlights spike in drug use, increased trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"region region-before-content\">\n<div id=\"block-views-block-story-photo-block-image\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-story-photo-block-image\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"view view-story-photo view-id-story_photo view-display-id-block_image js-view-dom-id-66e5e90706949895d816c75d6d2de2973210726ff34f700b5a2968fa94796ed2\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"node node--type-news-story node--view-mode-top-image clearfix container\">\n<div class=\"story-caption\"><span class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-date\"><span class=\"field-content\"><time class=\"datetime\" datetime=\"2024-06-26T12:00:00Z\">26 June 2024<\/time><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-topics\"><span class=\"field-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/news\/topic\/law-and-crime-prevention\" hreflang=\"en\">Law and Crime Prevention<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"main-wrapper\" class=\"layout-main-wrapper clearfix\">\n<div id=\"main-container\" class=\"container layout-main-container\">\n<div class=\"row row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left clearfix\">\n<section class=\"section\">\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-lead\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-lead\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_lead js-view-dom-id-07d07313bab0c53f06b2d673d66d0d28122257f9f7ece86e01eb944fa599bea3\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story-lead\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<p>The UN agency tackling crime and drug abuse (UNODC) released its annual World Drug Report on Wednesday warning that there are now nearly 300 million users globally, alongside an increase in trafficking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-un-base-theme-content\" class=\"block block-system block-system-main-block block-un-base-theme-content\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<article class=\"node node--type-news-story node--view-mode-full clearfix\">\n<header><\/header>\n<div class=\"node__content clearfix\">The\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/end-drug-abuse-day\">International Day<\/a>\u00a0against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is commemorated every year on June 26 and aims to increase action in achieving a drug-free world.<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-813c644673145450eab03869919f0f2db6edad056dd9bd24bf4ca88e136af369\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"_none\">\n<div class=\"w-100\">\n<div class=\"layout row layout-builder__layout\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unodc.org\/unodc\/en\/drugs\/index-new.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This year\u2019s campaign recognises<\/a>\u00a0that \u201c<strong>effective drug policies must be rooted in science, research, full respect for human rights<\/strong>, compassion, and a deep understanding of the social, economic, and health implications of drug use\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Ghada Waly, Executive Director of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unodc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNODC<\/a>, said that providing evidence-based treatment and support to all those affected by drug use is needed, \u201cwhile targeting the illicit drug market and investing much more in prevention\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>New threat from nitazenes<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>Drug production, trafficking, and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality, while causing untold harm to people\u2019s health, safety and well-being.<br \/>\n<sub>\u2014 Ghada Waly<\/sub><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In the decade to 2022, the number of people using illicit drugs increased to 292 million, the UNODC report says.<\/p>\n<p>It noted that most users worldwide consume cannabis \u2013 228 million people &#8211; while 60 million people worldwide consume opioids, 30 million people use amphetamines, 23 million use cocaine and 20 million take ecstasy.<\/p>\n<p>Further, UNODC found that there was\u00a0<strong>an increase in overdose deaths following the emergence of nitazenes\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 a group of synthetic opioids potentially more dangerous than fentanyl \u2013 in several high-income countries.<\/p>\n<h2>Trafficking in the Triangle<\/h2>\n<p>The drug report noted that traffickers in the Golden Triangle, a region in Southeast Asia, have found ways to integrate themselves into other illegal markets, such as wildlife trafficking, financial fraud, and illegal resource extraction.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cDisplaced, poor and migrant communities\u201d bear the brunt of this criminal activity\u00a0<\/strong>and on occasion are forced to engage in opium farming or illegal resource extraction for their survival; this can lead to civilians becoming drug users or fall into debt at the mercy of crime groups.<\/p>\n<h2>Environmental fallout<\/h2>\n<p>These illegal crimes contribute to environmental degradation via deforestation, toxic waste dumping and chemical contamination.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDrug production, trafficking, and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality, while causing untold harm to people\u2019s health, safety and well-being,\u201d UNODC\u2019s Ms. Waly said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item\">The potency of cannabis has increased by as much as four times in parts of the world over the last 24 years.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Cocaine surge and cannabis legalisation<\/h2>\n<p>In 2022, cocaine production hit a record high with 2,757 tons produced \u2013 a 20 per cent increase from 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The increase in supply and demand of the product was accompanied by a surge of violence in nations along the supply chain, especially in Ecuador and Caribbean countries. There was also a spike in health problems within some destination countries in Western and Central Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, harmful usage of cannabis surged as the product was legalized across Canada, Uruguay, and 27 jurisdictions in the United States, much of which was laced with high-THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) content &#8211; which is believed to be the main ingredient behind the psychoactive effect of the drug.<\/p>\n<p>This led to an increase in the rate of attempted suicides among regular cannabis users in Canada and the US.<\/p>\n<h2>The hope for World Drug Day<\/h2>\n<p>The UNODC report highlights that the \u201c<strong>right to health is an internationally recognized human right that belongs to all human beings<\/strong>, regardless of a person\u2019s drug use status or whether a person is imprisoned, detained or incarcerated\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>UNODC\u2019s calls for governments, organizations and communities to collaborate on establishing evidence-based plans that will fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.<\/p>\n<p>The agency also hopes communities will assist in \u201cfostering resilience against drug use and promoting community-led solutions&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-footer-block-1\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-footer-block-1\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-content-footer view-id-content_footer view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-10be042d1a7696e27df66d7d6b9b411062731852efaf15436fb5f1552f0f206d\"><em><strong>Source: https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/06\/1151446<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>26 June 2024\u00a0Law and Crime Prevention The UN agency tackling crime and drug abuse (UNODC) released its annual World Drug Report on Wednesday warning that there are now nearly 300 million users globally, alongside an increase in trafficking. The\u202fInternational Day\u00a0against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is commemorated every year on June [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,31,32,68,20,92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cannabis-marijuana","category-cocaine","category-crime-violence-prison","category-drug-use-various-effects","category-others","category-synthetics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}