….2024 UN Drug Report Reveals
By Delicious Mathuthu
The 2024 World Drug Report, released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on June 26, 2024, paints a stark picture of the drug landscape in Africa with criminal networks targeting the continent for transit.
The report highlights a significant increase in cannabis and opioid (heroin and tramadol) use, with West and Central Africa being the most affected regions.
The report states that nearly 10 percent of the population in West and Central Africa, equivalent to 31 million people, used cannabis in the year 2022.
Opioid use is also on the rise, with an estimated 1.3 percent of the population using opioids, primarily heroin and tramadol.
The report notes that Africa has become a key trafficking region for cocaine, heroin, and cannabis, with criminal groups increasingly using the continent for trans-shipment.
This has led to a spillover of international drug trafficking flows to local markets, exacerbating drug use harms.
Some key findings on Africa include:
- The majority of people treated for drug use disorders in Africa are under the age of 35.
- Cannabis and opioids are the drugs for which most people with drug use disorders seek treatment in Africa.
- Africa has a large gender gap in drug use, with less than one woman for every nine men using cannabis.
- The emerging use of drug mixtures and concoctions, such as nyaope, karkoubi, and kush, is an increasing threat to public health in some African countries.
Meanwhile, the report calls for increased international cooperation to address the growing drug problem in Africa and mitigate its consequences on health, governance and security.
