Cannabis use has risen over the past 20 years in South and Central America but is showing signs of stabilizationSouth and Central America account for around 30 per cent of global cannabis herb seizures quantity. Over the past 20 years, use among the general population aged 15-64 has increased –…
Limited data suggest that cannabis use in Africa is higher than the global average, with large differences between women and men.Limited data suggest that cannabis use in Africa is higher among the general population aged 15-64 than the global average – driven by relatively high prevalence among…
The non-medical use of cannabis in Australia has remained broadly stable, while trends in New Zealand have levelled off after earlier growth.In Australia, cannabis use has remained relatively stable over the past 2 decades. However, between 2019 and 2022/23 cannabis use increased among women (…
Cannabis use in Europe stabilizes after long-term growth.Cannabis remains the most widely used drug in Europe, with an estimated 31 million users in 2024 (10 million women and 21 million men).In the majority of countries with available data, use has stabilized in recent years following long-term…
Global opioid use has remained broadly stable, with strong regional differences in prevalence of use.The number of people who use opioids worldwide has remained relatively stable in the last five years, with the estimate for 2024 only slightly higher than the level in 2019.Prevalence of past-year…
Global opiate use has remained broadly stable, with slight declines in the prevalence of use.The number of people using opiates worldwide has remained stable over the last five years, while the annual prevalence of use declined slightly from 0.61 per cent in 2020 to 0.57 per cent in 2023 and 2024.…
Cannabis use remains widespread globally, with steady long-term growth.Prevalence of past-year cannabis use is highest in North America, Australia and New Zealand, and West and Central Africa, while North America and South Asia have the highest number of people who use cannabis.Cannabis use has…
The type of opioid that is most used non-medically varies across regions and countries.With the highest population globally, Asia is also the region with the highest number of people who use opioids.The type of opioid used differs across regions, with opiates such as heroin dominating in Asia and…
The non-medical use and trafficking of tramadol remain most concentrated in North Africa, West and Central Africa, and the Near and Middle East and South-West Asia, though there remains significant localized non-medical use in other regions.There remains a significant data gap on tramadol use and…
The health harms posed by the non-medical use of opioids remains high in North America, but have started to decline in late 2023 and in 2024.Opioid overdose deaths reached historical highs in the United States of America and Canada between 2021 and 2023 but have since started to decline, returning…
In East and South-East Asia, limited regular data collection makes it difficult to assess long-term trends in opioid use. However, data on people registered for drug use and people in drug treatment indicate a decline in opioid (mainly heroin) use over the past 10 to 15 years.In most of East and…
Opioid-related harms, measured as new people entering treatment, have declined in Europe.Although the share of people in treatment for opioid use disorders remains substantial in Europe, the number of people entering treatment for the first time has decreased.In Eastern Europe and South-Eastern…
