Rising Global Drug Use: A Growing Concern

Context

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported a significant increase in global drug use, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.

Increasing Trends in Global Drug Use

Introduction to the Issue: The UNODC report, released on June 27, 2024, reveals that global drug users numbered 292 million in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade.
Cannabis as the Most Widely Used Drug: Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug with 228 million users, followed by opioids (60 million), amphetamines (30 million), cocaine (23 million), and ecstasy (20 million).
Treatment Gap: Despite 64 million people suffering from drug use disorders, only one in 11 receives treatment, with women facing even greater barriers—only one in 18 women with drug use disorders receive treatment compared to one in seven men.

Implications for Gender Equality and Social Stability

Gender Disparities in Treatment: The significant barriers faced by women in accessing treatment for drug use disorders underscore the need for gender-sensitive approaches in health care and rehabilitation.
Impact on Young People: Evidence-based prevention programs are crucial, especially for young people, to equip them with the knowledge and skills to avoid drug use.
Empowerment of Organized Crime: Drug trafficking fuels organized crime, which diversifies into other illegal economies, such as wildlife trafficking, financial fraud, and illegal resource extraction, exacerbating social instability.

Strategies for Addressing Drug Use and Its Consequences

Comprehensive Strategy Needed: A multifaceted approach involving prevention, treatment, and law enforcement is essential to tackle the issue effectively.
Law Enforcement and Health Rights: Strengthening law enforcement to disrupt criminal networks must be balanced with upholding human rights and providing health services to those struggling with addiction.
Decline in Global Opium Production: A significant decline in opium production, particularly in Afghanistan (95% decrease in 2023) and Myanmar (36% increase), has long-term implications for global drug markets and treatment services.

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):

The agency's focus is the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, crime prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism, and political corruption.
It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

Types of Drugs:

In 2016, 6 drug types accounted for nearly all drug trafficking offenses:

Methamphetamine: 33.6%
Cocaine: 19.8%
Marijuana: 17.6%
Heroin: 14.4%
Crack: 8.1%
Oxycodone: 2.8%
Other: 3.7%

Efforts to combat drug problem:

Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, 1985: It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
- The NDPS Act has since been amended thrice – in 1988, 2001 and 2014.
- The Act extends to the whole of India and it applies also to all Indian citizens outside India and to all persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.
Nasha Mukt Bharat: The ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or Drug-Free India Campaign which focuses on community outreach programs.
National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) is an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation.
Global stance: India is signatory of the following international treaties and conventions to combat the menace of Drug Abuse:
- United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
- UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
- UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
- UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000.