India home to largest number of opiate users: UN report on drugs

What is the News?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) has released the World Drug Report 2022.

What are the key findings of the report?

Globally: Compared to the previous decade, the number of drug users has increased by 26% globally.

Although women remain in the minority of drug users globally, their consumption rate increases more rapidly than men on average and fewer get treatment.

Young people continue to use more drugs than adults and have higher levels of use than in past generations.

Environmental Impact: Deforestation is associated with illicit coca cultivation; waste generated during synthetic drug manufacturing and dumping other waste can affect soil, water and air directly.

India: India has the most number of opiate users in the world. This trend is expected to rise with an increase in trafficking.

What are the recommendations of the report?

– Direct law enforcement resources to target maritime and container drug trafficking,

– Develop national drug prevention systems that reach children as early as possible in their development and focus on building resilience,

– Integrate outreach, psychosocial, pharmacological, healthcare and social support services to better protect the health of people who use drugs,

– Integrate drug policy approaches into conflict and peacebuilding responses and when addressing crises and weak rule of law,

– Mainstream the objective of “do no harm to the environment” in drug policy responses.

Source: The post is based on the article “India home to largest number of opiate users: UN report on drugs” published in Down To Earth on 29th June 2022.