-
Source: ONE News -
Related
UN 2009 World Drug Report found that New Zealand and Australia have one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the world . Following is a summary of the report's main points:
Opium and heroin
Potential opium production declined 9.4% from 2007, prompted by a
19% decrease in poppy cultivation in the world's leading producer,
Afghanistan.
Opium yields remained high compared to previous years because of
continued instability in Afghanistan, where production was
concentrated in the southern provinces where the Taliban is most
active. Myanmar and Laos also were major producers.
Opium and heroin use appears to be stable in Europe, the most
lucrative market for the drug, but increases have been reported in
Eastern Europe.
Opiates remain the world's largest problem in terms of drug
treatment, and the highest levels of use are found along the main
trafficking routes through Iran and other countries that neighbor
Afghanistan.
Roughly 0.3% to 0.5% of the global population used heroin or other
opiates at least once in 2007. In Iran, that figure was 2.8%.
Retail heroin prices in Europe and the United States continued
their long-term decline. In 2007, a gram of heroin cost $US131 in
the United States and 52 euros in Europe.
Cocaine
Potential cocaine production fell 15% to 845 metric tons in 2008,
spurred by a 28% decline in Colombia, the world's leading producer.
Cultivation increased in Peru and Bolivia.
Significant declines in cocaine use were reported in the United
States, the largest market. Cocaine use in Europe showed signs of
leveling off after years of increase. Usage continued to increase
in South America.
Retail prices increased in the United States in 2008 to $US120 per
gram but continued to fall in Europe, to 67 euros per gram in
2007.
Between 0.4% and 0.5% of the global population used cocaine in
2007. Central America reported the highest usage figures at 2.3% of
the population.
Marijuana
Marijuana was used at least once in 2007 by between 3.3% and 4.4%
of the global population, making it the most popular illegal
drug.
Usage was highest in Central America (10.5% of the population) and
Australia/New Zealand (11%).
Marijuana use has gradually declined in the United States over the
past decade and stabilized in Europe, but is increasing in Latin
America, Asia and Africa.
Between 88,000 metric tons and 110,000 metric tons of marijuana was
grown in 2008, but this estimate does not include important
producers like Afghanistan, Jamaica and Nigeria. Precise estimates
are difficult because the crop can be easily grown across much of
the globe.
Methamphetamines and other synthetic
stimulants
Between 0.4% and 1.2% of the global population used synthetic
stimulants in 2007, though usage is difficult to assess
accurately.
Methamphetamine users account for 54% to 59% of the total users of
synthetic stimulants, followed by amphetamine (32% to 35%) and
other stimulants (8% to 11%).
Methamphetamine is most popular in North America and Southeast
Asia, but the increased number of countries reporting seizures
suggest that it is increasing geographically.
Amphetamine use is stable or declining in Europe.
Production patterns can shift quickly as synthetic stimulants can
be produced nearly anywhere at low cost.
The United States accounts for 82% of methamphetamine laboratory
busts, but activity appears to be declining since stricter controls
on precursor chemicals were put in place in 2005.
Industrial-scale operations in China, Myanmar and the Philippines
appear to have grown in size and sophistication as organised crime
groups get involved.
Organised crime groups have also set up large-scale operations in
Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Global seizures of all synthetic stimulants were down slightly in
2007, but still up significantly since 2002.
Fake Captagon tablets, commonly containing caffeine and
amphetamine, are popular in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East
countries.
For the full UN 2009 World Drug
Report click HERE
