Policy>>Criminal Justice Response

People in contact with the criminal justice system

Drug offences bring millions into contact with the criminal justice system every year, with outcomes varying by offence type.

  • In 2024, an estimated 5.9 million people worldwide were in formal contact with the police for criminalized drug offences, with nearly two thirds related to drug possession or use. “Formal contact” refers to persons suspected, arrested or cautioned for criminalized drug offences.
  • About 3.7 million people were prosecuted and 2.2 million convicted. Relative to population size, rates of formal contact, prosecution and conviction are highest in Europe and Australia and New Zealand.
  • While most cases involve drug use or possession in absolute terms, trafficking offences are more likely to result in prosecution and conviction – except in Africa.

Estimates are not directly comparable to with earlier reports due to methodological improvements.