UNODC released Annual World Drug Report (2024)

Current Context : Annual World Drug Report was released on World Drug Day (or International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking).

• Released By United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

RELEVANT DATA

• Rise in drug abuse: In 2022, the number of people using illicit drugs increased to 292 million.
• Mostly used drugs: Cannabis consumed by 228 million people , followed by opioids (60 million people), amphetamines (30 million people) , cocaine (23 million), and
• Affected regions: Triple Frontier area (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) and Golden Triangle (Laos Myanmar and Thailand).
• Legalisation of Cannabis: Cannabis was legalised across Canada, Uruguay, and 27 jurisdictions in the United States.
• Environmental fallout: Drug-related activities contribute to deforestation, toxic waste dumping, and chemical contamination.