More than 300 million people worldwide use drugs: 6% of adults

According to the UN's World Drug Report, more than 316 million people, or 6% of the world's adult population (15-65 years), used some kind of drug in 2023. In 2013, the percentage was 5.2%, showing an upward trend .

Cannabis is the most widely consumed substance, with 244 million users (77%), followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million) and ecstasy (21 million). At the same time, synthetic drugs have had a clear spread over the last decade, partly due to digitization and internet sales.

The United Nations warns that people are starting to consume at an increasingly young age and that illicit markets have diversified. In addition, the number of people with serious consumption disorders has increased: in 2022 there were 63 million cases of dependency, physical or psychological harm or urgent need for treatment.

The report highlights the opioid crisis, especially in the United States. In 2023, fentanyl caused more than 100,000 deaths in the United States. In South America, the consumption of basic cocaine or pako paste has caused a public health emergency in poor urban areas.

In other countries, such as Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia, heroin and methamphetamine continue to present major problems, while in West Africa the use of tramadol, an opioid originally used for medical use, has increased. Despite the severity of the problem, the health response is limited: only one in five consumers with serious disorders receive treatment.