Drug abuse amidst pandemic

Context: The economic downturn caused by the global pandemic may drive more people to substance abuse or leave them vulnerable to involvement in drug trafficking and related crime.

Challenges posed by drug abuse:

• Affected segments:

• One out of three drug users is a woman, but women represent only 1 in 5 people in treatment. 
• People in prison settings, minorities, immigrants and displaced people also face barriers to treatment due to discrimination and stigma.
• Around 269 million people used drugs in 2018, up 30% from 2009, with adolescents and young adults accounting for the largest share of users.

• Falling assistance support:  Development assistance dedicated to drug control fell by some 90% between 2000-2017. 

• Falling assistance for alternative development for poor farmers to stop growing illicit opium.

• Socially and economically disadvantaged people are more likely to develop drug use disorders. 

• The risks and consequences of drug use are worsened by poverty, limited opportunities for education and jobs, stigma and social exclusion.
• More than 80% of the world’s population is deprived of access to controlled drugs for essential medical uses.

• World Drug Report 2020:

• One out of eight people who need drug-related treatment receives it.
• 35.6 million people suffer from drug use disorders globally.

Way Forward:

• Greater investment: in evidence-based prevention, treatment, and other services for drug use disorders. 
• International cooperation: to increase access to controlled drugs for medical purposes and preventing diversion and abuse. 
• Strengthen law enforcement action: to dismantle the transnational organised crime networks.
• Health-centred, rights-based and gender-responsive approaches:  to drug use and related diseases.
• Develop drug strategies: to address the country-level and regional challenges.