UNODC warns of “new era of global instability” with cocaine production
(MENAFN) According to the latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), worldwide cocaine production reached an unprecedented high in 2023. The report highlights significant increases in drug seizures, the number of users, and deaths linked to cocaine use.
Released on Thursday, the UNODC’s annual assessment warns of a “new era of global instability” that is strengthening organized crime and pushing drug consumption to historic levels.
Cocaine has emerged as the fastest-growing illicit drug market globally, with production soaring to an estimated 3,708 tons in 2023—an increase of nearly 34% compared to the previous year. This surge is largely attributed to expanded coca cultivation and improved yields in Colombia.
The estimated number of cocaine users worldwide climbed to around 25 million in 2023, up from 17 million in 2013. Consumption remains highest in North America, Western and Central Europe, and South America, with wastewater analyses showing sharp increases in European cities.
For the fifth year running, cocaine seizures in Western and Central Europe have outpaced those in North America. Globally, seizures have grown by 68% between 2019 and 2023.
The report also points out that drug use continues to be a major global health challenge. In 2023, approximately 316 million people aged 15 to 64 used illicit substances other than alcohol and tobacco, representing 6% of this population—up from 5.2% in 2013.
Drug use disorders are responsible for nearly half a million deaths each year and result in a loss of 28 million healthy life years globally. Despite this, only one in twelve people suffering from such disorders received treatment in 2023.
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in prevention programs, enhanced international cooperation, and stronger judicial measures to dismantle criminal drug networks.
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