The increasing use of cannabis is leading to a greater burden on healthcare facilities, according to the World Drug Report 2022 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In the European Union, 30% of drug therapies are already related to cannabis, and in some countries in Africa and Latin America, an even higher percentage of drug therapies are linked to cannabis addiction. The report attributes this significant increase in drug therapies to the stronger hashish and marijuana on the market. Regular consumption of these drugs in Western Europe is leading to an increase in mental illness and addiction, particularly among young adults. The report also highlights that regular cannabis use globally leads to more cases of psychiatric disorders and suicides.
Despite the negative effects of cannabis use, the UNODC notes that the legalization of cannabis has led to a decrease in arrests related to cannabis and an increase in tax revenue for states. However, the main damage is still caused by dangerous opioids, such as the heroin-like substance Fentanyl, which is responsible for an opioid epidemic in North America, as well as in northern and western Africa and the Middle East. The misuse of the painkiller Tramadol is also causing an opioid epidemic in Asia and Europe. The UNODC warns that other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, are finding new markets, with cocaine smuggling increasing to Africa and Asia, and methamphetamine being increasingly abused in countries like Mexico and Afghanistan.
According to the UNODC, approximately 284 million young people and adults worldwide use drugs, with over 11 million people injecting drugs with needles. Half of these individuals are infected with Hepatitis C, and 1.4 million of them live with HIV. The report highlights the urgent need for effective drug policies and interventions to address the growing drug problem worldwide.
