2024-11-16 09:00:00
Two homeless drug addicts share a small piece of fentanyl in a Los Angeles alley, August 18, 2022. AP PHOTO/JAE C. HONG
Angela Me is Head of Research and Trend Analysis at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In particular, she directs the world report on drugs published each year by this institution.
In 2022, nearly 300 million people will have used drugs, according to the latest annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), or 20% more than ten years ago. How do you explain this increase, taking into account the increased resources implemented to combat trafficking and limit consumption?
The first reason is the increase in population. There are more of us on earth, and therefore more of us doing all kinds of things and using drugs. But this increase is also partly due to the increase in the percentage of people who have used drugs. Over the past ten years, most drugs have seen an increase in their consumption worldwide. Cocaine, in particular, the increase in use of which is particularly marked in Europe, but not only. Cannabis has also seen an increase in consumption over the last decade. Above all, we have also observed this year the increase in the use of stimulants, particularly methamphetamine, while for downers (drugs with sedative effects), the market is rather stable. In Europe, for example, but also in Southeast Asia, a whole generation of heroin users continues to age.
However, there is not really any research that establishes a cause and effect relationship leading to drug use. We have of course identified certain recurring factors, including mental health. The increase in mental health-related disorders, which is particularly significant during Covid, has links to drug consumption and dependence. Another factor is the availability of substances. This supply is always linked to demand, and one leads to the other, like a vicious circle.
This article is taken from “Special Issue Le Monde – Drug traffickers: their networks, their crimes, the response”November-December 2024, on sale at kiosks or online by going to on our store website.
This vicious circle you speak of particularly concerns cocaine. Recent figures, in terms of seizure and consumption, show that its diffusion is massive, within a market associated with sometimes uncontrollable violence, both in South America and in Europe. Do you consider this substance to be the priority for action at the international level?
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How has the increase in synthetic drug production, such as fentanyl, complicated efforts to combat drug trafficking and consumption?
**Interview with Angela Me, Head of Research and Trend Analysis at UNODC**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Angela. Your recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlights a concerning trend: nearly 300 million people used drugs in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade. Can you explain the underlying factors contributing to this rise?
**Angela Me:** Thank you for having me. The increase in drug usage can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, there’s the natural growth in population. More people on the planet inherently means more individuals likely to experiment with or use drugs.
**Editor:** That makes sense. But are there other factors beyond population growth?
**Angela Me:** Absolutely. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen a significant uptick in drug use across various substances. Cocaine use is notably rising, particularly in Europe, while cannabis consumption has also increased. This growing acceptance and accessibility of various drugs play crucial roles, alongside social and economic factors that drive individuals toward substance use.
**Editor:** Speaking of accessibility, you mentioned increased resources being allocated to combat trafficking and limit consumption. If these efforts are in place, why have we not seen a decrease in drug use?
**Angela Me:** That’s an important point. While resources have increased for combating drug trafficking, the demand often outpaces these efforts. Additionally, the rise of synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, poses new challenges for law enforcement and public health. These substances are more potent and often cheaper to produce, making them more readily available.
**Editor:** With these trends continuing, what measures can be taken to address this growing problem?
**Angela Me:** It’s crucial to adopt a multifaceted approach that includes not just enforcement but also education, harm reduction, and treatment programs. Our focus should be on understanding the socio-economic factors driving drug use and tailoring our strategies to meet these challenges effectively.
**Editor:** Thank you, Angela, for sharing your insights on this pressing issue. It’s clear that a collective effort is needed to combat the rising tide of drug usage globally.
**Angela Me:** Thank you for having me. Awareness and action are key to addressing this complex and evolving situation.
