Drug consumption is booming worldwide: violence and cocaine plague out of control!

Drug consumption is booming worldwide: violence and cocaine plague out of control!

Ecuador - On June 26, 2025, the UN office for drug and crime fighting (UNODC) publishes alarming figures on global drug problems. According to the current report, the number of drug users has increased to 316 million worldwide. This represents a significant increase that exceeds the global population and shows worrying trends in drug use.

The most widespread drug remains cannabis, with 244 million consumers. This is followed by opiates with 61 million, amphetamines with 30.7 million, cocaine with 25 million and ecstasy with 21 million users. The rapid increase in the cocaine market is particularly remarkable. In 2023, the illegal production of cocaine increased by more than a third to around 3,708 tons, a development that led to further increase in consumers.

increasing violence and drugote

The increase in cocaine consumption is not without consequences. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of cocaine consumers rose from 17 million to 25 million. This development goes hand in hand with an increasing number of drug deaths and an increase in violence that is closely related to drug trafficking. According to reports, this violence is particularly visible in Western and Central Europe, where more cocaine is confiscated than in North America.

The UN particularly emphasizes the alarming situation in Ecuador and the Caribbean, where the acts of violence are increasingly increasing due to drug trafficking. In addition, the UN drug experts record worrying trends in connection with drug trafficking in conflict areas such as Syria and Ukraine. In these regions, the export and import of the synthetic drug captagon adhere to the already difficult security situation.

political reactions and measures

UNODC boss Ghada Waly calls for increased investments in prevention and combating trade causes. It suggests that technologies are used to promote better cross -border cooperation, and alternative livelihoods should be provided. Legal measures against the main actors of drug trafficking are also essential. These challenges must be addressed in global drug policy in order to reduce consumer rates and to solve the underlying problems.

Another aspect that is important in the discussion about drug policy are the different approaches in the international drug control regime. While prohibition is considered a global standard in many countries, some countries in Western Europe, such as the Netherlands and Portugal, reducing damage and decriminalization, have established as a method to minimize the health risks of drug use. These developments present the existing international control regime with considerable challenges, in particular the legalization of cannabis in countries such as Canada and Uruguay.

Overall, the latest UN report not only shows an alarming increase in drug use, but also complex social and political issues that urgently need to be treated. It remains to be hoped that the international community will work together to counter these challenges.

For more detailed insights into the numbers and trends of drug use and its effects, the reports of 5min , Zeit and bpb