Exploring the World Drug Report 2024: Webinar for Civil Society

Vienna (Austria), 25 July 2024 – Global drug trends are constantly evolving, with new substances emerging each year. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report, an essential annual publication, provides member states and other stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs) with the latest and most comprehensive insights into these trends, patterns of drug use, and emerging substances. The recently published 2024 report highlights emergence of new synthetic opioids and a record supply of drugs, which is exacerbating the global drug problem, leading to a rise in drug use disorders and environmental harms. The report also delves into the impact of the opium ban in Afghanistan and the potential consequences of the significant contraction of the Afghan opiate market. The emergence of new synthetic opioids poses lethal risks.

“Drug production, trafficking, and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality, while causing untold harm to people’s health, safety and well-being,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. In the preface of the World Drug Report 2024, Ms. Waly emphasizes the crucial link between the right to health and drug use, expressing hope that this will serve as a foundation for future discussions on fulfilling this right and assessing progress.

Insights from experts

Civil society organizations play a key role in this effort, addressing drug-related issues by providing support and assistance with health concerns, advocating for evidence-based policies, and providing services to communities affected by the world drug problem. Recognizing this, the UNODC Civil Society Unit and the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) organized a webinar for civil society organizations. During this event, experts presented the main findings of the World Drug Report 2024, followed by contributions from civil society experts and an interactive question-and-answer session.

In her opening remarks, Mirella Dummar Frahi, Chief of the UNODC Civil Society Unit emphasized the unique opportunity the webinar presents for civil society to delve deeper into the World Drug Report and increase participant’s knowledge about the world drug situation and how it impacts their life and work.

Moderated by Matej Košir, Chairperson of the VNGOC, the webinar featured the key findings of this year’s World Drug Report, highlighting the latest global and regional trends. Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Russian, and Spanish allowed over 240 participants from around the world to directly engage with the authors of the 2024 World Drug Report and discuss the most recent data.

Thomas Pietschmann (UNODC Drugs Research Section) presenting the highlights of the 2024 World Drug Report stressed that drug use continues to increase and harm people, particularly young people. Almost 292 million people have used a drug in the past year, 20% more than a decade earlier and new means of drug delivery are negatively impacting young people and they continue to be particularly affected by drug use. Drug supply continues to rise globally, and supply in cocaine reached a record high in 2024, with more than 2,700 tons of cocaine manufactured. Looking at regional developments, Mr. Pietschmann pointed out that countries in Africa are increasingly affected by drug trafficking and the use of new and dangerous drug “cocktails. Turning to access to controlled medicines he highlighted that some 87% of the worlds’ population do not have adequate access to pharmaceutical opioids for pain relief and care.

Armed with the crucial knowledge from World Drug Report 2024, civil society organisations worldwide can better understand the current landscape, empowering them to educate their communities, advocate for evidence-based policies, and implement effective interventions. Together, these efforts contribute to fostering a healthier and safer society.

Further information:
World Drug Report 2024

Recording of the webinar

WDR 2024 Highlights (presentation from Thomas Pietschmann, UNODC Research and Analysis Branch)

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