World Drug Report 2015

162 Pages·2015·8.194 MB·English

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The World Drug Report presents a comprehensive annual
overview of the latest developments in the world’s illicit drug
markets by focusing on the production, trafficking and
consumption of the main types of illicit drugs, along with the
related health consequences of those drugs. Chapter 1 of the
World Drug Report 2015 not only provides a global overview of
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the supply of and demand for opiates, cocaine, cannabis,
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amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances,
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as well as their impact on health, but also provides a review of L
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the scientific evidence on approaches to preventing drug use
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and addresses general principles for effective responses to R
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treatment for drug use. Chapter 2 examines how alternative G
development, within the broader context of the development R
agenda, is aimed at breaking the vicious cycle of illicit crop E
P
cultivation by providing farmers with alternative livelihoods. O
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T

The statistical annex is published on the UNODC website: 2
0
www.unodc.org/wdr/2015/ 1
5
2015
ISBN 978-92-1-148282-9
Research

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME
Vienna
World Drug Report
2015
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 2015
© United Nations, May 2015. All rights reserved worldwide.
ISBN: 978-92-1-148282-9
eISBN: 978-92-1-057300-9
United Nations publication, Sales No. E.15.XI.6
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form
for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from
the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) would appreciate
receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.
Suggested citation: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
World Drug Report 2015 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.15.XI.6).
No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial
purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from UNODC.
Applications for such permission, with a statement of purpose and intent of
the reproduction, should be addressed to the Research and Trend Analysis
Branch of UNODC.
DISCLAIMER
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of UNODC or contributory organizations, nor does it imply any
endorsement.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication
do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of
UNODC concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to:
Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
P.O. Box 500
1400 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.unodc.org
PREFACE
UNODC is pleased to present the findings of the World Drug tries there have been signs of increases in heroin-related indi-
Report 2015, based on the best available data and our long- cators such as mortality and health emergencies, and in others
standing research expertise in the many complex facets of indications of increased purity and lower prices.
drugs and crime.
An unacceptable number of drug users worldwide continue
Member States are engaged in intensive discussions on the to lose their lives prematurely, with an estimated 187,100
way forward to address the world drug problem, with the drug-related deaths in 2013.
General Assembly special session on this topic to take place
Only one out of six problem drug users globally has access
next year. This report is aimed at providing needed research
to treatment. Women in particular appear to face barriers to
input and informing collective responses to the challenges
treatment — while one out of three drug users globally is a
posed by the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs.
woman, only one out of five drug users in treatment is a
The continuing discussions leading to the special session of woman.
the General Assembly have recognized the need for drug
Clearly more work needs to be done to promote the impor-
control policies that are balanced, comprehensive and inte-
tance of understanding and addressing drug dependence as
grated, with a focus on health and carried out with respect
a chronic health condition requiring, like HIV/AIDS, long-
for human rights.
term, sustained treatment and care.
Numerous Security Council and General Assembly resolu-
UNODC remains committed to working with Member
tions have emphasized the fact that the harm caused by illicit
States, as well as our United Nations and other partners, to
drugs has a significant impact on peace, security and
further these efforts.
development.
The thematic chapter of this year’s report focuses on alterna-
The ongoing debate on the post-2015 development agenda
tive development.
has further underscored the importance of promoting justice
and the rule of law, and of addressing the threats that under- Alternative development presents many challenges, with pro-
mine them, including drugs, violence and organized crime. grammes often undertaken in marginalized, isolated areas
with limited government control, unclear land rights and lack
Risk factors and circumstances that can render people more
of infrastructure, where few other development actors may
vulnerable to illicit drugs, as well as facilitate the establish-
be operating.
ment and expansion of illegal markets, are often related to
issues of development, rule of law and governance. Policies Nevertheless, the decades-long experience of UNODC has
can never be pursued in isolation, and drug control is no made it clear that alternative development can work, when
exception. initiatives are informed by a long-term vision, sustained with
adequate funding and political support, and integrated into
The need for such integrated responses, encompassing robust
a broader development and governance agenda.
criminal justice action to disrupt organized criminal net-
works, measures to ensure access to controlled medications Approached holistically, alternative development has the
for medical purposes, and evidence- and health-based potential to break the vicious cycle trapping poor farmers and
approaches to prevention and treatment, is more evident than to act as a catalyst for viable livelihoods that do not depend
ever. on illicit cultivation.
The vulnerability of Africa to drugs and crime remains a grave The World Drug Report 2015 chapter on alternative develop-
concern, with increasing seizures of heroin indicating the ment, based on reviews of successful projects, highlights fac-
region’s role as a key transit area for global drug trafficking tors that have contributed to fostering a sustainable licit
routes. These illicit flows bring with them other forms of economy, including transfer of skills and access to land, credit
organized crime, and undermine security, health and devel- and infrastructure, as well as marketing support and access
opment in an already-fragile region. to markets.
The nexus between organized crime and terrorism — in The chapter further underlines the potential of alternative
which illicit drug trafficking appears to play a role — poses development to contribute to environmental protection,
a serious threat, as emphasized by recent Security Council empower women and support communities affected by other
resolutions calling for redoubled efforts to prevent terrorists forms of crime, including illegal mining or wildlife and forest
from benefiting from transnational organized crime. crime.
Record opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan continues Unfortunately, the report also shows that widespread political
to present formidable challenges for the country and the support for alternative development has not been matched
international community. by funding.
Global opium poppy cultivation in 2014 reached its highest Member States have repeatedly endorsed alternative develop-
level since the late 1930s. The increase in estimated opium ment. There is also a welcome trend towards South-South
and heroin production has not yet been reflected in an cooperation, with the exchange of best practices and local
increase in heroin supply in most regions. But in some coun- experiences, as well as increased financial investments and
WORLD
DRUG
2015 REPORT
iv
technical support from countries such as Bolivia (Plurina-
tional State of), Colombia, Peru and Thailand.
Nevertheless, overall gross disbursements of alternative devel-
opment funds from countries of the Organization for Eco-
nomic Cooperation and Development accounted for just 0.1
per cent of global development assistance in 2013.
The post-2015 development agenda and the process towards
the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug
problem to be held in 2016 can provide an important impe-
tus for alternative development efforts, as well as for broader
interventions addressing supply and demand.
Impoverished farmers growing coca and opium poppy to eke
out an unsustainable living; fragile regions and communities
reeling from the harm caused by the transit of illicit drugs,
on their way to richer markets; women, men and children
struggling with drug dependence, with nowhere to turn. Illicit
drugs hurt so many people, in so many places, and they need
our help. The international community must respond with
determination and compassion, and I hope the World Drug
Report 2015 will help to reinforce this message.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Member States
for their help in producing this report, which relies on the
willingness to share data, promote transparency and provide
assistance. That is to say, it relies on the very spirit of open-
ness and shared responsibility needed to address the multidi-
mensional challenges posed by illicit drugs, and we count on
your continued support.

Yury Fedotov
Executive Director
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
CONTENTS
PREFACE iii
EXPLANATORY NOTES vii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ix
1. STATUS AND TREND ANALYSIS OF ILLICIT DRUG MARKETS
A. Extent of drug use 1
B. Health impact of drug use 4
C. Gender, drug use and health consequences 13
D. Drug use prevention 18
E. Treatment of drug use 30
F. Extent of drug supply 36
G. Market analysis by drug type 41
Opiates 41
Cocaine 50
Cannabis 57
Synthetic drugs: amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances 67
H. Conclusions 75
2. ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT
A. Introduction 77
B. Setting the scene 78
C. Analysis of national alternative development strategies 88
D. Challenging context of alternative development 90
E. Drivers of illicit cultivation 93
F. Strategic elements of alternative development programmes 97
G. Measuring the success of alternative development 109
H. Points of future interest 114
I. Conclusions 117
ANNEX I i
Tables on drug cultivation, production and eradication and prevalence
ANNEX II
Regional groupings xix

GLOSSARY xxi
WORLD
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2015 REPORT
Acknowledgements
The World Drug Report 2015 was prepared by the Research and Trend Analysis
Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime, under the supervision of Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the
Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, and Angela Me, Chief of the
Research and Trend Analysis Branch.
Core team
Research, study preparation and drafting
Hamid Azizi Sabrina Levissianos
Anneke Bühler João Matias
Coen Bussink Kamran Niaz
Giovanna Campello Philip Davis
Chloé Carpentier Thomas Pietschmann
Natascha Eichinger Martin Raithelhuber
Fabienne Hariga Ehab Salah
Jorrit Kamminga Saurabh Sati
Anja Korenblik Janie Shelton
Igor Koutsenok Justice Tettey
R iku Lehtovuori Juanita Vasquez
Graphic design and layout
Suzanne Kunnen
Kristina Kuttnig
Data processing and mapping support
Gerald Kandulu
Preethi Perera
Umidjon Rahmonberdiev
Ali Saadeddin
Editing
Jonathan Gibbons
Coordination
Francesca Massanello
Review and comments
The report also benefited from the expertise and valuable contributions of several
colleagues in the Division for Operations and the Division for Treaty Affairs.
The Research and Trend Analysis Branch is also grateful for the contributions,
advice and research conducted by the Scientific Advisory Committee, which was
formed specifically to provide scientific advice on the research to be undertaken
for chapter 2 of the present report. Members of the Committee were:
Daniel Brombacher Jeremy Milsom
Doris Buddenburg Ramrada Ninnad
Rodrigo Daza Jorge Rios
M.L. Dispanadda Diskul Alejandro Vassilaqui
Mimoun El Maghraoui Fernando Villaran
Guillermo García Miranda Jochen Wiese
T om Kramer
The Research and Trend Analysis Branch is also grateful for the contributions
to chapter 2 of the present report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime country offices in Afghanistan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Colombia,
Myanmar and Peru, as well as the Regional Office for South-East Asia and the
Pacific.
The research for chapter 2 of the present report was made possible by the
generous contribution of the Russian Federation.
EXPLANATORY
NOTES
The boundaries and names shown and the designations All references to Kosovo in the present publication should
used on maps do not imply official endorsement or accept- be understood to be in compliance with Security Council
ance by the United Nations. A dotted line represents resolution 1244 (1999).
approximately the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir
Since there is some scientific and legal ambiguity about
agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of
the distinctions between “drug use”, “drug misuse” and
Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the
“drug abuse”, the neutral terms “drug use” and “drug con-
parties. Disputed boundaries (China/India) are represented
sumption” are used in the present report.
by cross-hatch owing to the difficulty of showing sufficient
detail. All analysis contained in this report is based on the official
data submitted by member States to the United Nations
The designations employed and the presentation of the
Office on Drugs and Crime through the annual report
material in this publication do not imply the expression
questionnaire unless indicated otherwise.
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat
of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any The data on population used in the present report are
country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or con- from: United Nations, Department of Economic and
cerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Pros-
pects: The 2012 Revision.
Countries and areas are referred to by the names that were
in official use at the time the relevant data were References to dollars ($) are to United States dollars, unless
collected. otherwise stated.
References to tons are to metric tons, unless otherwise
stated.
The following abbreviations have been used in the present report:
ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder MWID males who inject drugs
ATS amphetamine-type stimulants 3,4-MDP-2-P 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-
CBD cannabidiol propanone
CICAD Inter-American Drug Abuse Control 4-MEC mythylethcathinone
Commission (Organization of
NPS new psychoactive substances
American States)
OECD Organization for Economic
DEA Drug Enforcement Administration
Cooperation and Development
EMCDDA European Monitoring Centre for
PWID people who inject drugs
Drugs and Drug Addiction
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Europol European Police Office SAMHSA
Service Administration (United States)
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of
THC ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol
the United Nations
FWID females who inject drugs UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS
GDP gross domestic product
USAID United States Agency for International
GIZ German Agency for International
Development
Cooperation
UNFDAC United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse
INCB International Narcotics Control Board Control
INCSR International Narcotics Control UNDCP United Nations International Drug
Strategy Report, of the United States Control Programme
State Department
UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime
LSD lysergic acid diethylamide
MDA 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine WHO World Health Organization
MDMA 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine WTO World Trade Organization
WORLD
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2015 REPORT