New Era of Global Instability Has Empowered Organized Crime Groups, ‘Pushing Drug Use to Historically High Levels’

“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.” 

316 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. 

The 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. 

The global illicit drug trade continues to exact a devastating toll: claiming lives, ravaging public health services, and fueling violence and organized crime.

Drug trafficking is tearing through communities with substances that are more potent, more dangerous, and more deadly than ever.

Meanwhile, criminal networks prey on the most vulnerable – particularly women and youth – as they rake in hundreds of billions annually through the illicit drug trade — UN Secretary General

Global cocaine market breaking its own records 

Production, 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. 

Cocaine 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. 

Synthetic drug market continues to expand 

Due 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. 

The 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. 

Drug trafficking brings in staggering profits 

Though 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.  

Though 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.  

Impact of drug use 

Drug 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. 

The 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.  

How drugs affect the environment 

The 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.

The 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. 

Read the full report here: www.unodc.org/wdr

*SOURCE: UNODC. Go to ORIGINAL: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2025/June/unodc-world-drug-report-2025_-global-instability-compounding-social–economic-and-security-costs-of-the-world-drug-problem.html 2025 Human Wrongs Watch