The number of drug users in the world increased in 2023 to a record 316 million. This stems from the UN Annual Administration of the United Nations Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for 2025, operating with data from 2023. It was published on Thursday, TASR writes based on DPA and AFP agencies.
The total number of drug users corresponds to up to six percent of the world’s population aged 15 to 64, while the statistics did not include consumers of tobacco or alcohol. According to data, ten years ago, the drug was taking 5.2 percent of the world’s population.
The most popular substance by UNODC report remains marijuana with approximately 244 million Users followed by opioids (61 million users), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million) and ecstasy (21 million).
“This edition of the world drug administration shows that organized drug trafficking groups continue to adapt to the world, use global crises and focus on vulnerable population groups,” The Unodc Executive Director Ghada Wálí said.
“We must invest in prevention and address the underlying causes of drug trafficking at every point of the illegal supply chain. We must strengthen our reactions using technology, strengthening cross -border cooperation, providing alternative livelihood sources and taking legal measures aimed at key actors who control these networks, ” added.
According to the report, the fastest growing drug market is the cocaine market. The production of this drug in 2023 increased by more than a third to a record 3708 tonnes year -on -year. Compared to 25 million cocaine users in 2023, only 17 million people took the substance ten years ago. The development of the cocaine market also increases the number of deaths caused by overdose as well as violence among organized criminal groups.
