UNITED NATIONS - Drug abuse among least 185 million people, 3% of the world population: UN Drugs and Crime Report presented in Moscow

Rome (Fides Service) - The production and consumption of drugs in the world is falling. But there is concern for the fact that Afghanistan has resumed its production of 70% of the world’s opium, while on the front of drug abuse, the use of ecstasy and similar pills is ever more widespread.
This was seen from a 2004 report issued by the United Nations anti Drug and Crime Office, presented in Moscow. The report says that an estimated 185 million people 3% of the world population abuse of drugs: cocaine 13 million and heroin 15 million, cannabis 150 million and stimulants like amphetamine rising to 38 million consumers, including 8 million who use ecstasy.
“Positive” elements highlighted in the report include a sharp fall of in deaths of drug addicts in western Europe: 20% between 2000 and 2002. At the same time in many countries the total number of people who die of drug abuse is lower than those who die of smoking and abuse of alcohol.
Young people are the most vulnerable category and there is a concerning spread of HIV/AIDS infection among drug addicts. This is a problem in Russia where drug addiction and HIV/AIDS have developed together and with accelerated rates in recent years. An estimated 80% of HIV infection are due to drugs.
On the front of trafficking the UNODC says the world heroine market has moved from developed countries to countries in transition and some developing countries.
With regard to production, there are two main regions: South East Asia where growing of opium poppies continues to fall in Myanmar and in Laos and South America where for the fourth year running the production of coca has fallen thanks to efforts in the main producer countries, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
Heroine is still the drug which has the most serious effect on health and strikes mostly in Asia and Europe, cocaine in the Americas (although falling among young people in the USA), while in Africa abuse of cannabis produces the most damage.
There is a counter tendency in Afghanistan which has returned to producing three quarters of the world’s opium which for the past decade has been an annual 4-5000 tonnes. (AP) (30/6/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:37; Parole:454)