NCJ Number
214786
Date Published
2006
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes the prevalence and growth in the world’s drug market focusing on four main drug markets: opium/heroin, coca/cocaine, cannabis, and amphetamine-type stimulants.
Abstract
In 2005, the total area under opium poppy cultivation declined, as did global opium production. Encouraging trends were also noted on the coca/cocaine market. Global production of cocaine stayed largely at the same level and seizures of cocaine rose to new highs. Global cocaine use declined slightly. After years of massive increases in the 1990s, the markets for amphetamine type stimulants seem to be stabilizing which reflects improvements in international law enforcement cooperation and improvements in control. Cannabis herb (marijuana) and resin (hashish) remain the most widely trafficked drugs worldwide, accounting for the majority of seizures. In 2004, cannabis herb seizures surpassed 6,000 metric tons. For the same year, seizures of cannabis resin increased by 6 percent to 1,470 metric tons. An estimated 162 million people use cannabis annually and it is produced in some 176 countries around the world. However, basic facts about the supply and demand for this drug remain vague and the market continues to rise. This paper presents the executive summary for Volume I, the Analysis (Chapters 1 and 2) from the 2006 World Drug Report prepared by the United Nations. These chapters attempt to present a global picture of the trends in the world drug market with emphasis on markets of opium/heroin, coca/cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, and cannabis. Tables, charts