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…
Globally, the majority of people in drug-related treatment continue to be men, although the proportion of women varies by region, subregion and primary drug.Approximately one in five people in drug-related treatment worldwide is a woman.The lowest proportions of women in drug-related treatment are…
The global burden of caring for people who inject drugs with evidence-informed interventions remains highIn 2024, there were an estimated 14.3 million people who inject drugs, or 0.3 per cent of the population aged 15–64.The highest prevalence of people who inject drugs (PWID) remain in Eastern…
HIV prevalence remains high among people who inject drugs, with significant disparities by sex and region.People who inject drugs face a relatively much higher risk of HIV infection – around 14 times that of the global population aged 15-64 – with particularly elevated risks for women and young…
Hepatitis remains a major health burden among people who inject drugs.Injecting drug use remains a major contributor to the global hepatitis C epidemic, with nearly half (48 per cent) of people who inject drugs – around 7 million – living with hepatitis C in 2024.The highest prevalence of hepatitis…
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…
Polydrug use poses significant risks and is more common among people with drug use disorders.No consensus definition of polydrug use currently exists but it can be generally understood as taking two or more drugs together or in sequence (intentionally or unintentionally), with both forms increasing…
The limited data available suggest that most overdose deaths involve multiple substances.Toxicological findings from 22 countries show that a median of 67 per cent of overdose deaths involve more than one substance.In 17 countries with available data, opioids and sedatives/tranquilizers are most…
Cannabis, ATS and opioids account for the highest numbers of people in drug-related treatment globally, with variation between regions and countries.In most reporting countries, cannabis or opioids are the most common primary drug among those in treatment. However, in the Caribbean, South America…
The use of cannabis and stimulant drugs continues to increaseGlobally, the use of cannabis and stimulant drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine and "ecstasy" increased in 2024, while the use of opioids remained largely stable.
Cocaine use remains concentrated in established markets, but emerging markets are gaining relevance.North America and Western and Central Europe have the largest number of users, while prevalence is highest in Oceania, followed by the Americas and Western and Central Europe.Alongside these…
The use of cannabis continues to grow in almost all regions of the world.The number of cannabis users has increased worldwide over the past 20 years, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Americas, while remaining relatively stable in Europe and Oceania.The annual prevalence of cannabis use has also…
