Global cocaine production hit a record of 2,757 tons in 2022, up 20% from 2021, according to the world Drugs 2024 report released this Wednesday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report includes special chapters on the impact of the opium ban in Afghanistan on synthetic and other drugs, the impact of the legalization of cannabis and the “resurgence” in the use of psychedelic substances, the right to health in relation to drug use, and how drug trafficking in The Golden Triangle (Thailand, Myanmar and Laos along with Afghanistan) is associated with other illegal activities and their consequences.
The paper, published in Vienna, said global coca bush cultivation increased by 12% between 2021 and 2022, to 355,000 hectares.
The long-term increase in supply and demand for cocaine has coincided with increased violence in supply chain states, particularly Ecuador and the Caribbean, and increased health harm in destination countries, including Western and Central Europe.
Regarding the legalization of cannabis in some countries, the report notes that by January 2024, Canada, Uruguay and 27 US jurisdictions had legalized the production and sale of the substance for non-medical use, with different legislative approaches emerging in other parts of the world.
The document notes that “in these American jurisdictions, this process appears to have accelerated the harmful use of the drug and led to the diversification of cannabis products, many of which have high THC content (potency).”
In Canada and the United States, the number of hospitalizations associated with cannabis use disorders has increased, as have the proportion of people with mental disorders and suicide attempts associated with regular cannabis use, especially among young people.
Cannabis continues to be the most consumed drug worldwide, especially among the 15 to 64 age group.
The report also reports a “renaissance” in the access and use of psychedelic substances, highlighting that while interest in the therapeutic use of these drugs to treat some mental disorders continues to grow, clinical research has yet to produce any scientific results. Standard guidelines for medical use.
However, as part of a broader “psychedelic renaissance,” grassroots movements are helping to fuel commercial interest and the creation of an enabling environment that encourages widespread access to unregulated, “quasi-therapeutic,” and non-medical uses of psychedelic substances.
These steps may go beyond scientific therapeutic evidence and the development of guidelines for the medical use of psychedelic substances, potentially compromising public health goals and increasing the health risks associated with unregulated use of these substances.
Regarding the impact of the Afghan government’s ban on opium production in Afghanistan, the sharp decline in production in 2023 (95% compared to 2022) and the increase in production in Myanmar (36%), global opium production fell by 74%. last year.
The paper concluded that the “dramatic decline” in opioid production in the Afghan market has made Afghan farmers poorer and some drug traffickers richer.
This situation could have long-term consequences, including heroin purity, shifts to other opioids, or increased demand for opioid treatment services, which could soon be felt in Afghan drug transit and destination countries.
The UNODC document also emphasizes that countries must ensure the right to health care and treatment for drug users, an internationally recognized human right, whether the person is in prison or outside, and their families.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.