United Nations ODC Announces Increase In Global Drug Use

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, UNODC, says there is about thirty percent (30%) increase in drug use around the world than what it was in 2009.

According to the World Drug Report, about two hundred and sixty nine million people used drugs worldwide in 2018, while over thirty five million people suffer from drug use disorders.

Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja bureau reports that the World Drug Report, released in Vienna, by the UNODC, also analysed the impact of COVID-19 on drug markets, saying that while its effects are not yet fully known, border and other restrictions linked to the pandemic have already caused shortages of drugs on the streets, leading to hike in prices and increased fear of fake and adulterated drugs.

The report indicated that rising in unemployment and reduced opportunities caused by the pandemic are also likely to disproportionately affect the poor, making them more vulnerable to drug use and also to drug trafficking and cultivation in order to earn money.

UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly, at the launch of the 2020 World Drug Report said vulnerable and marginalized groups, youths, women and the poor pay the price for the world drug problem.

The Executive Director, stressed that COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn will further compound drug dangers especially as the health and social systems have been brought to the brink and societies are struggling to cope, hence the need for all governments to show greater solidarity and provide support, to developing countries to assist them tackle illicit drug trafficking.

At a press briefing ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the lead Agency in drug control in Nigeria, NDLEA through the Chief Executive Officer, Retired Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said within the past one year, it had done a lot to ensure that the influx of drugs is checked adding that the agency had through the Public Destruction of Exhibits and farm storage destructions, harvested and destroyed a total of three hundred and ten point one tons of cannabis sativa.

This year’s theme for the celebration is “Better knowledge for better care” which is informed by the need to curtail the increasing number of misinformation trailing drug abuse and drug use disorder.