Global Drug Use on the Rise

The use of drugs worldwide has increased by 34% over the past decade. According to a study by the United Nations (UN), 331 million people used drugs in 2024, and social media has become one of the most popular tools for accessing drugs.The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its 2024 World Drug Report, which shows that the most widely used drug is "cannabis", with 256 million people using it.The report also states that 63 million people suffered from drug use disorders in 2024, with only 8.2% of them receiving treatment.The report highlights the fatal health problems associated with drug use, with 14 million people injecting drugs in 2024, 6.9 million of whom were infected with hepatitis C, 1.7 million with HIV, and 1.5 million with both HIV and hepatitis C.