In 2015 nearly 250 million of people used drugs according to World Drug Report 2017 from United Nations Office Drugs and Crime (UNODOC).
Of these, 29.5 million went through problematic use and suffered use disorders, including dependence. Among all drugs opioids were the most harmful, related with 70% of the negative health impact associated with drug use disorders worldwide.
With reference to heroin and morphine between all health consequences for the 12 million of people using injecting drugs HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) were the deadliest ones. This last one in particular is responsible for 222.000 deaths in 2015, confronted with 60.000 from HIV.
What needs to be said is that proportion of drug users imprisoned is four times (20%) the general population (5,3%). In relation to the 12 million users of injecting drugs 1.6 million are currently living with HIV, while 6.1 million are suffering HCV and 1.3 million are living with both of them.
Between 2,7 and 3,9 million of people in US are suffering chronic hepatitis C and access to treatment remains quite difficult due to the high cost of medicines like Harvoni (87.800 USD) and Sovaldi (73.800 USD). In relation to differences between opiate and opioids, the first are natural like opium, heroin and morphine while the last one are syntethic like methadone, oxycodone and fentanyl.
Relating to the number of users while opioid users are estimated in 35 million opiate ones are globally 17,7 million.
Concerning 2015 while opiate users estimated to be 18 million around the world opioids ones are nearly double, 35 million.
Opiate and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
Among drugs responsible for dangerous effects Amphetamines after opiates occupy the second position.
While New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) market is quite small they're accountable of high burden in terms of diseases. Their dangerous effects are normally connected with their composition and their dosage, both mostly unknown to their users, exposing them to additional health risks.
Assessments in terms of global cultivation relating to 2016 account the amount of soil cultivated with opium poppy plants in 304.800 hectares, with an 8% of increase compared to 2015. Relating to global production from 6.380 tons of opium produced in 2016 4.300 tons were refined into 448 tons of heroin, with an increase of 34% comparing to 2015, while 2.080 tons were consumed as opium.
The great majority of the opium seized around the world by government authorities comes from Afghanistan. In relation to global seizures 2016 data revealed an 11% of increase in opium, opposed to a 5% of decrease in heroine and a 54% of decrease in morphine.
Cocaine and cannabis
Confronting seized cocaine quantity in Europe in 2015 with wastewater analysis from 80 european cities conclusions highlight an increase in cocaine use in Europe. Key findings of the Core Group Europe project reveals that cocaine use is higher in western and southern European cities particularly in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom.
Same trend in cocaine use was registered in North America.
This is in line with global trends, with a rise in cultivated soil registered with 156.500 hectares (+10% ) and global cocaine seizures with 864 tons seized in 2015 (+3%). Same percentage (+10%) was registered in global production, with 1.125 tons of pure cocaine globally produced in 2015. The global number of cocaine users estimated is 17.1 million.
With 7.317 tons of substance seized, both as leaves and resin, cannabis is supposed to be the most diffused drug, with an estimated number of users calculated in 183 million. This result is also a consequence of regulation of recreational cannabis use in the US, which is actually allowed in nine states. Other 29 states legally regulated medical marijuana use. This is also a lucrative market expected to post nearly 10 billion USD in sales in 2017.
Amphetamine and Metamphetamine
According to global number of seizures Amphetamine and Metamphetamine production considerably increased, ranking second only after opioids. Users of Metamphetmaine reached 37 million globally.
In terms of tons globally seized in 2015 Methamphetamine reached 132 with an increase of 21% compared with 2014. These were followed by 52 tons of Amphetamine, rising an 8% compared with 2014 and Ectasy with 6 tons (-35%); 23 tons was the amount of NPS seized registered for 2015 (-38%).
Twenty two is the worldwide number of ecstasy users calculated for 2015, while 37 million is for Amphetamine.
Significant was the spreading of Amphetamine traffic beyond traditional regions, as seizures up in the Middle East and in Central America testimony.
In the Near Middle East Amphetamine is sold as "Captagon" tablets and is largely used by Isil terrorists. Their involvement in this illicit drug traffic is well documented.
Another key evidence was the emerging of Central America as country of origin of Metamphetamine
Organized Crime Groups
In 2014 transnational organized crime were estimated globally to have generated between one fifth to one third of their revenues from drug sales. New opportunities were offered to traffickers from mobile communications. Darknet offers instead anonymity to drug dealers, allowing them to pay with criptocurrencies. This new opportunity has increased of some 50% for years between september 2013 and january 2016.
Drug money, usually cash, is supposed to be laundered in a proportion estimated between 60-70%. This is the reason why drug proceeds may result in illicit financial flows. Impact of drug proceeds and illicit financial flows may be small in the majority of countries but may be substantial for some drug producing developing countries. Drug proceeds damage economies in the long term. And is estimated in a large portion of the corruption process. (cm)