The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released the World Drug Report 2025, highlighting how global instability is worsening the world drug problem. According to the report, organized crime groups are exploiting crises and targeting vulnerable populations, leading to record-high drug use levels.
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach, including prevention, technology use, cross-border cooperation, and judicial action. “We must dismantle criminal organizations, bolster global security, and protect our communities,” she stated.
In 2023, 316 million people used drugs, excluding alcohol and tobacco, accounting for six percent of the global population aged 15-64, up from 5.2 percent in 2013. Cannabis remains the most used drug, with 244 million users, followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy. The report warns that vulnerable groups fleeing conflict and instability could further increase these numbers.
The global cocaine market is expanding rapidly, with production reaching 3,708 tons in 2023, a 34 percent increase from 2022. Cocaine seizures hit a record high, rising 68 percent over 2019-2023. Use has grown from 17 million users in 2013 to 25 million in 2023. Traffickers are also targeting new markets in Asia and Africa, spreading violence to regions like Western Europe.
The synthetic drug market, dominated by amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) like methamphetamine, continues to grow due to low production costs and reduced detection risks. ATS seizures reached record levels in 2023, accounting for nearly half of all synthetic drug seizures globally.
Drug trafficking generates hundreds of billions annually, with criminal groups constantly innovating to evade detection. The report stresses the importance of understanding these networks to disrupt them effectively. It also highlights the severe health impacts of drug use, with nearly half a million deaths and 28 million healthy years of life lost in 2021. Only one in 12 people with drug use disorders received treatment in 2023.
The environmental impact of drug cultivation, production, and trafficking is significant, particularly in Europe, where deforestation and pollution are notable. However, environmental harm is often overlooked in drug policy responses.
— news from United Nations Information Service Vienna
— News Original —
UNODC World Drug Report 2025: Global instability compounding social, economic and security costs of the world drug problem
For information only – not an official document n nUNIS/NAR/1499 n n26 June 2025 n nUNODC World Drug Report 2025: Global instability compounding social, economic and security costs of the world drug problem n nArabic version (PDF) – Spanish version (PDF) – French version (PDF) – Portuguese version (PDF) n nVIENNA, 26 June (UN Information Service) – A new era of global instability has intensified challenges in addressing the world drug problem, empowering organized crime groups and pushing drug use to historically high levels, says the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the World Drug Report 2025 launched today. n n“This edition of the World Drug Report shows that organized drug trafficking groups continue to adapt, exploit global crises, and target vulnerable populations,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “We must invest in prevention and address the root causes of the drug trade at every point of the illicit supply chain. And we must strengthen responses, by leveraging technology, strengthening cross-border cooperation, providing alternative livelihoods, and taking judicial action that targets key actors driving these networks. Through a comprehensive, coordinated approach, we can dismantle criminal organizations, bolster global security, and protect our communities.” n nThree hundred sixteen million people used a drug (excluding alcohol and tobacco) in 2023, or six per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64, compared to 5.2 per cent of the population in 2013. With 244 million users, cannabis remains the most widely used drug, followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million) and ecstasy (21 million). New groups of vulnerable people fleeing hardship, instability and conflict could cause these numbers to increase further, the report warns. n nThe report includes special chapters on drug trafficking and organized crime; the impact of drug use on the health of people who use drugs, their families, communities, and society; and the impact of drugs on the environment in Europe. n nGlobal cocaine market breaking its own records n nProduction, seizures, and use of cocaine all hit new highs in 2023, making cocaine the world’s fastest-growing illicit drug market. Illegal production skyrocketed to 3,708 tons, nearly 34 per cent more than in 2022. Global cocaine seizures reached a record high at 2,275– a 68 per cent rise over 2019-2023. Use of cocaine, meanwhile, has grown from 17 million users in 2013 to 25 million users in 2023. n nCocaine traffickers are breaking into new markets across Asia and Africa, the report notes. The vicious violence and competition characterizing the illicit cocaine arena, once confined to Latin America, is now spreading to Western Europe as organized crime groups from the Western Balkans increase their influence over the market. n nSynthetic drug market continues to expand n nDue to factors like low operational costs and reduced risks of detection, the synthetic drug market continues to expand globally, dominated by Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) like methamphetamine and amphetamine (including “captagon”). Seizures of ATS reached a record high in 2023 and accounted for almost half of all global seizures of synthetic drugs, followed by synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. n nThe fall of the Assad regime in Syria has created uncertainty around the future of the captagon trade. Following the political transition, large captagon manufacturing sites in the country were uncovered. Though the discovery could possibly disrupt the drug’s supply, the latest seizure data from 2024 and 2025 confirm that captagon is continuing to flow -primarily to countries of the Arabian peninsula – possibly indicating the release of previously-accumulated stockpiles or continued production in different locations. n nDrug trafficking brings in staggering profits n nThough estimates vary, the illicit drug trade generates hundreds of billions of dollars per year. Criminal groups innovate constantly, through boosting production, finding new ways to chemically conceal their drugs, and using technology to conceal communications and increase distribution. n nThough resilient, organized criminal networks can be disrupted – but a deeper understanding of the aims and structures of drug trafficking groups is required. Mapping criminal groups can highlight their vulnerabilities, key actors, enablers, and pinpoint possible areas for intervention. Law enforcement agencies could also consider investing in technology and skills training that matches the sophistication of tools used in the drug supply chain. n nImpact of drug use n nDrug use disorders already impose a huge cost on individuals, communities, and health systems, and the rising turn away from multilateralism and reallocation of resources could intensify the problem, the report notes. n nThe cost of failing to tackle drug use disorders is steep – nearly half a million deaths and 28 million healthy years of life lost due to disability and premature deaths (DALY) in 2021. Just one in 12 people with drug use disorders were estimated to have received any form of drug treatment in 2023. Factors such as policies and availability of evidence-based health and social services can help mitigate the health impact of drug use on people and communities. n nHow drugs affect the environment n nThe report finds that drug use, drug cultivation and trafficking, and the policy responses enacted to address illicit drug economies are all impacting the environment in Europe. Potential consequences of drug cultivation/production can include deforestation and other land-use change as well as air, land and water pollution – which can be significant at the local level. n nThe number of dismantled clandestine drug laboratories increased in Europe between 2013 and 2023. This manufacture produces significant amounts of waste and can result in considerable clean-up and ecosystem restoration costs. Nevertheless, the report finds that environmental harm is not a priority when designing and implementing drug policy responses, and that much of the waste and other environmental impacts are unaccounted for. n n* *** * n nFor further information, please contact: