Polydrug use among people in drug-related treatment
Polydrug use is common among people in drug treatment, with patterns varying by region.
According to the limited data available on people in drug treatment, between 40 and 50 per cent of persons in drug-related treatment are polydrug users, with lower levels in Asia (22 per cent) and almost no difference between men and women.
The most common combinations among people in treatment differ by region: opioids and cannabis are most common in Africa, cocaine and cannabis are most frequently combined in the Americas, and opioids combined with cocaine is most commonly observed in Europe.
Asia shows a more complex pattern: in the countries with available data, the most common combination is opioids with sedatives/tranquilizers used non-medically, alongside a strong role for amphetamines.
