24 June 2009 - UNODC today released the 2009 World Drug Report.

The report was launched in Washington DC by UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa, and the newly appointed Director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske. The report shows that global markets for cocaine, opiates and cannabis are steady or in decline, while production and use of synthetic drugs is feared to be increasing in the developing world.

The report shows a downward trend in major drug markets. Opium cultivation in Afghanistan, where 93 per cent of the world's opium is grown, declined by 19 per cent in 2008. Colombia, which produces half of the world's cocaine, saw an 18 per cent decline in cultivation and a staggering 28 per cent decline in production compared to 2007. Global coca production, at 845 tons, is at a five year low, despite some increases in cultivation in Peru and Bolivia.

Cannabis remains the most widely cultivated and used drug around the world, although estimates are less precise. Data also show that it is more harmful than commonly believed. The average THC content (the harmful component) of hydroponic marijuana in North America almost doubled in the past decade. This has major health implications as evidenced by a significant rise in the number of people seeking treatment.

While use of synthetic drugs - amphetamines, methamphetamine and ecstasy - has leveled off in developed countries, new data, though limited, shows a probable rise in their use in the developing world.

The report documents a shift in the routes used for drug trafficking. In West Africa for instance, a decline in seizures seems to reflect lower cocaine flows after five years of rapid growth. While 41 per cent of the world's cocaine is being seized (mostly in Colombia), only one fifth (19 per cent) of all opiates are being intercepted.

The Report pays special attention to the impact of drug-related crime, with calls for more resources for drug prevention and treatment, and stronger measures to fight drug-related crime.

It also offers several recommendations on how to improve drug control. These include universal access to drug treatment, international agreements against organized crime and greater efficiency in law enforcement.

In an effort to improve transparency and the quality of drug data, this year UNODC has introduced ranges into country-level estimates used in the World Drug Report. For many regions, and for some drugs (like ATS and cannabis) the ranges are relatively wide since information is more limited.

The report is now available.