Drug consumption is a global issue with wide-ranging impacts on public health, social well-being, and economic stability. While alcohol and cannabis are among the most commonly used substances worldwide, illicit drug use remains a significant concern in many countries, as reports show on the website of the World Population Review organization.
Global Drug Consumption Trends
Top 10 Countries for Illicit Drug Use
Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) provide a metric for quantifying the impact of illicit drug use on public health. The United States leads in drug consumption, with a significant proportion of its population engaging in illicit drug use. Other countries with high DALY rates include Estonia, Belarus, Mongolia, Canada, Greenland, Russia, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, and Denmark.
*DALYs stands for Disability-Adjusted Life Years, a conceptual metric used to quantify the impact of illicit drug use on public health by calculating the number of years of healthy life lost across a nation's population.
Factors Driving Illicit Drug Use
Various factors contribute to high rates of illicit drug use in certain countries. The allure of forbidden substances, stringent drug laws, socioeconomic disparities, and geographic proximity to drug-producing regions all play a role. Additionally, stressors such as economic instability, political unrest, and public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate drug consumption trends.
Global Drug Capitals
The United States holds the title of being the foremost consumer of drugs globally, while Afghanistan stands out as the primary producer. Although opium poppies are grown in 57 countries, a staggering 95% of the world's opium originates from just three nations: Afghanistan (the top producer), Mexico, and Myanmar. Similarly, the bulk of coca cultivation, and consequently cocaine production, is concentrated in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.
Afghanistan's dominance in opium production may face challenges in the future. The Taliban, in power, has expressed strong opposition to the opium trade and has enforced a ban on poppy cultivation. However, eradicating the industry entirely presents significant obstacles. Despite efforts, Afghanistan's poppy cultivation has been increasing steadily, reaching 177,000 hectares (438,000 acres) in 2021—enough to yield 650 tons of heroin. Notably, Afghanistan's opiate production generated between $1.8 to $2.7 bn in 2021, comprising up to 14% of the country's GDP.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a statement on September 10, indicating a possible rise in methamphetamine production in Afghanistan following the Taliban's assumption of power. However, the press release lacks precise statistics to support this assertion and instead references data from earlier years. In 2017, just 2.7 tons of methamphetamine were confiscated in Afghanistan and neighboring nations, but by 2021, this figure had escalated to 29.7 tons.
Situation in Central Asia
*Information regarding opiate consumption is presented as a proportion of the overall populace and is sourced from various datasets spanning from 1995 to 2016. This data exclusively pertains to opiates and does not encompass information on opioids.
In the global ranking of drug consumption, Kazakhstan secured the 8th position, while Uzbekistan ranked 95th. The rankings for other Central Asian countries are as follows:
- Kyrgyzstan: 23rd place
- Turkmenistan: 41st place
- Tajikistan: 76th place
Notably, Afghanistan, which accounted for 80% of the world's opium production in 2022, ranked 170th in the list. This shift in ranking may be attributed to the Taliban's extensive efforts to provide mass treatment for drug addicts and enforce the prohibition of drug cultivation.
Drug consumption of Central Asia in 2024 by Daryo_global
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