Australia and New Zealand have the highest global annual prevalence of use of "ecstasy", where it is mostly used in capsule and crystal form.In Australia, the use and availability of "ecstasy" declined during the COVID-19 pandemic but have started to increase again in 2023 (while not yet reaching…
“Ecstasy” use remains concentrated in Europe (mainly Western and Central Europe)Use is significantly higher in Western and Central Europe than in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, both in terms of prevalence (1.2 per cent vs. 0.4 per cent) and number of users (nearly 4 million versus less than 800,…
Seizures of key pharmaceutical opioids show distinct regional patterns by substance.While fentanyl seizures remain overwhelmingly concentrated in North America (> 99 per cent), other pharmaceutical opioids dominate seizures in different regions: codeine in West and Central Africa and South Asia…
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.…
Global illicit opium production remained more than 70 per cent below 2022 levels in 2025Global illicit opium production remained at lower levels in 2025 at 2,100 tons, more than 70 per cent below 2022 (mainly due to Afghanistan’s opium ban) and almost 80 per cent below its 2017 peak.A doubling of…
ATS seizures and dismantled laboratoriesSeizures of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) continue to grow globally, dominated by methamphetamine.Quantities of ATS seized have increased more than for any other drug category, reaching a record 604 tons in 2024; methamphetamine dominates both seizures…
Myanmar is now the world’s largest opium producer, followed by Afghanistan, Mexico and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.In Myanmar, opium production continues to be concentrated in the eastern parts of the country, notably in Shan State and in Kachin. This pattern has not changed over the last…
Global methamphetamine seizures reached another record high in 2024, with the highest growth rates reported by so-called emerging markets.East and South-East Asia and North America continue to account for the largest methamphetamine seizures globally, although seizures declined in North America…
As intensive methamphetamine use has increased in both Australia and New Zealand, associated health harms have also increased.In Australia, hospitalizations and the number of people in drug-related treatment related to methamphetamine use have increased over the long-term, although recent data…
Methamphetamine-related harms show mixed trends across North America.In Mexico, methamphetamine harms have increased in recent years, reflected in a growing number of people entering drug-related treatment for the substance – though recent data suggest possible signs of stabilization.In contrast,…
There continue to be challenges in the interdiction and reporting of laboratories and precursors as traffickers continue to shift precursors and production locations to avoid interceptionsfor the manufacture of methamphetamine in Europe seems to be largely limited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands…
