In South-Eastern Europe, and Western and Central Europe, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use and health harm remain mainly linked to amphetamine and are relatively low compared to other regions.Amphetamines are the third most common stimulant drugs group in Europe after cocaine and “ecstasy”.…
Methamphetamine and other ATS remain the leading substances for which people seek drug treatment in East and South-East Asia.The number of people receiving treatment for ATS use, mainly methamphetamine, has remained stable or declined in the majority of reporting countries – with the exception of…
ATS seizures reached a new record high in 2024, dominated by methamphetamine.
Availability of internationally controlled pharmaceutical opioids for medical use has stabilized in recent years.Availability of pharmaceutical opioids for medical use more than doubled between 1998 and 2024 – driven by a strong increase until 2013, followed by a decline and partial recovery in…
There remains a large discrepancy between the Global North and the Global South in the availability of internationally controlled pharmaceutical opioids for medical use - even though the gap is declining.Between 2015 and 2024, the per capita availability of pharmaceutical opioids for medical use in…
The synthetic drugs market in the Near and Middle East remains dynamic, following disruptions in the supply of “captagon”.The Near and Middle East accounted for 77 per cent of global “captagon” seizures in 2020–2024, with production mainly in the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon and trafficking…
The use of amphetamines has distinct regional patterns; past-year use is generally higher among men (0.85 per cent) than women (0.34 per cent) globally.The largest markets for ATS, mainly methamphetamine, remain East and South-East Asia and North America. The highest past-year use of amphetamines…
Heroin and morphine seizures remain concentrated in Asia.In line with the concentration of opium production in Asia, almost two thirds (64 per cent) of global heroin and morphine seizures occurred in Asia in 2024, notably in South-Western Asia and, to a lesser extent, in East and South-East Asia.In…
Data show a growing importance of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid related substances among “ecstasy” precursors and an ongoing concentration of “ecstasy” precursor seizures in Europe.Historically, 3,4-MDP-2-P, also known as piperonyl methyl ketone (PMK), has been the primary precursor chemical…
“Ecstasy” seizures reached record levels in 2024, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic highs.The quantity of “ecstasy” (MDMA) seized worldwide increased by 13 percent from 2023 to 2024, more than doubling compared with 2021 levels following a pandemic-related decline.Increases were widespread in 2024…
Most “ecstasy” found in the global market continues to be produced in Western and Central Europe.Data suggest that the bulk of the "ecstasy" is still being produced in Europe, with 82 per cent of reported countries of transit or departure of seized shipments around the world being from the region.…
“Ecstasy” use remains highest in high income countries and parts of Asia.Past-year use of "ecstasy" globally is estimated at 0.4 per cent among those aged 15-64. Use is higher among men (0.54 per cent) than women (0.26 per cent), but the difference is not as pronounced as for other drugs (for…
