296 million drug users worldwide in 2021 – UN

MANILA, Philippines — Illegal drug usage increased by 23 percent over the last decade as 296 million people worldwide used drugs in 2021, according to an annual drug report released by the United Nations yesterday.

The World Drug Report 2023 published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime highlighted that one in every 17 people worldwide, aged 15-64, used drugs in 2021.

The number grew from 240 million in 2011 to 296 million users in 2021.

“Continued record illicit drug supply and increasingly agile trafficking networks are compounding intersecting global crises and challenging health services and law enforcement responses,” the report read.

The report also found that injected drug users increased by 18 percent, or 13.2 million in 2021.

People who suffer from drug use disorders skyrocketed to 39.5 million, a 45 percent increase over 10 years.

Treatment for drug-related disorders remains largely unmet, as only one in five people were in treatment for drug use in 2021.

Meanwhile, cannabis remains the most used drug with an estimated 219 million users in 2021.

UN experts called for an end to the global “war on drugs” ahead of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

The impact of the war on drugs has been greatest on those who live in poverty.

The experts recommended replacing punishment with support, and promote policies that respect, protect and fulfill everyone’s rights.

Stigma

UN Philippines resident coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez yesterday urged ending drug use stigma and discrimination.

“Individuals grappling with substance use disorders are often subjected to judgment, rejection and criminalization,” Gonzalez said.

“Good public health supports public security while preserving individual essential rights,” he added.

Gonzalez also cited recent data in metropolitan Cebu, as there is an HIV prevalence rate of 29 percent among people who inject drugs.

These figures, he noted, are exacerbated by restrictive policies that impede access to harm reduction strategies, which also led to higher rates of Hepatitis C.