Drug consumption explodes worldwide: 316 million affected and increasing violence

Drug consumption explodes worldwide: 316 million affected and increasing violence

In recent years, the drug landscape has changed drastically worldwide. Current reports show that the number of drug consumers in 2023 rose to a rich 316 million - a clear increase in 292 million in 2022. These alarming numbers come from a report by the UN office for drug and crime fighting (UNODC), published in Vienna, and show a significant trend in drug consumption [Aerzteblatt reports that…] (https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/Drogenkonsum-hat-weltweit-zukt-e93cbace-96cf-b3f4-152d1cede4ba).

cannabis remains the most common drug, with 244 million consumers . The numbers for other drugs are also questionable: opiates are consumed by 61 million people, followed by 30.7 million who use amphetamines, and 25 million consume cocaine. The estimates also show that 21 million people consume ecstasy. Within a decade, the increase in drug users has increased by 28 percent , consumption grows even faster than the global population, as Unodc boss Ghada Waly emphasizes [Unricite reports that …] (Https://unric.org/de/weltdrogenbericht-316-million-fehn-drogen-kokain consumption-waechst-rasant/).

The cocaine boom

The situation is particularly drastically in certain regions, such as in Ecuador, where the murder rate has increased dramatically and the violence between gangs increases. Violence also increases across the Caribbean, favored by the growing cocaine trade. In addition, the trade in synthetic drugs, such as Captagon, in conflict areas, for example in Syria and Ukraine, has increased Unricite ....

drug policy in change

Drug policy faces growing challenges worldwide. Despite the global prohibition measures based on the international drug control regime, more and more countries are showing alternative approaches. In Western Europe, damage -reducing measures such as sterile needles and substitution therapies are increasingly introduced. In addition, some countries have decriminalized or even legalized the possession of cannabis, which significantly reports the international obligations BPB that ....

Such a reform, for example, carried out Portugal in 2001, which, in contrast to previous measures, led to positive developments in drug policy. Nevertheless, there are still considerable disagreements between the states and a comprehensive reform of international drug policy is currently not in sight. The topic remains a hot iron-both on a political and social level BPB reports that ....

In Germany, for example, 2023 2.227 drugote