UNODC warns of record global drug use and surge in novel synthetic substances

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2026 World Drug Report warns that 331 million people aged 15‑64 used illicit drugs in 2024 – 6.2 % of the global population – up from 5.2 % in 2014. The report documents a five‑fold increase in the variety of substances seized since 2000, with 755 new psychoactive substances identified in 2024, including 118 appearing for the first time.

UNODC executive director Monica Juma said, “We are seeing an unprecedented rise in the emergence of new types of drugs in the market, some of which are more potent and dangerous than previous ones.” The shift toward synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, nitazenes and orfins is accelerating as Afghan opium production fell after a 2022 ban, while production rises in Myanmar, Laos and Mexico have not compensated for the shortfall.

Methamphetamine production, once regional, has become a global market, with seizures growing about 12 % annually and new trafficking routes spreading to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and across the Pacific. Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with 256 million users in 2024. UNODC warns that the growing potency and spread of these substances are driving premature deaths, heightened violence and destabilisation of communities worldwide.