Launch of 2005 World Drug Report

UNIS Vienna held a press briefing today to launch UNODC’s 2005 World Drug Report. Melissa Tullis, Programme Management Officer, Research and Analysis Section, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), presented the findings of the Report to the media. Nasra Hassan, Director UNIS and Spokesperson, UNODC, chaired and moderated the press briefing. Francis Maertens, Director, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, UNODC, was present to answer questions following the presentation.

The main launch took place at a simultaneous event in Stockholm, Sweden, where Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director, UNODC and Annika Söder, State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden, presented the Report. Launches are also being held in New York, Brussels, and at UNODC field offices.

Ms. Tullis presented the results of the Report: 200 million persons worldwide, or 5 per cent of the world’s population aged 15-64, had used drugs at least once in the last 12 months, which was lower than the number of persons using licit psychoactive substances; the most widely-used illicit drug continued to be cannabis (160 million persons), followed by 30 million persons using amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), 16 million persons using opiates, and 14 million persons using cocaine; in terms of treatment demand, opiates continued to be the main problem drugs worldwide.

Following the overview of global consumption, Ms. Tullis discussed trends in the world’s four main illicit drug markets:

-Global opium production in 2004 had increased marginally by 2 per cent from 2003, but was still significantly lower than the level in the 1990s. The marginal increase reflected an increase in opium production in Afghanistan, which was not fully offset by the declines reported from Myanmar and Laos. The prospects for Afghanistan in 2005, however, were more positive, and prospects for a global decline in opium production in 2005 were quite positive. 

-Global cocaine production in 2004 was 2 per cent higher than in the previous year, but still 26 per cent less than in 1999. Although coca cultivation in Colombia had decreased substantially in 2004, this was more than offset by increases in Bolivia and Peru.

-Cannabis continued to be the most widely produced, trafficked and consumed drug worldwide, and indicators suggested that the cannabis market at the global level was expanding further.

-Global production of ATS, excluding ecstasy, was estimated at 332 metric tons, which was less than previous estimates and less than production of cocaine or heroin. Production of ecstasy was estimated at around 90 metric tons.

Ms. Tullis stated that the estimated retail value of the global illicit drug market was over US$ 320 billion, and that the size of the world’s illicit drug market was thus the equivalent of 0.9 per cent of the world’s GDP. The largest profits were made at retail level; the lowest at production level.

The presentation was followed by  a question and answer session.

Journalists thanked UNODC for providing information on the economic side of the world’s illicit drug market, and asked for more information on where the proceeds from this market were going, with special reference to Afghanistan.

Mr. Maertens answered that of the US $ 2.3 billion opium market in Afghanistan, around US$ 600 million went to farmers. UNODC was working on a study in cooperation with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to research where the rest of the proceeds were going.

On a question on the proceeds of the illicit drugs markets in Europe and North America, Mr. Maertens pointed to the role of money laundering, indicating that UNODC was providing assistance to countries that were used as ‘offshore centres’ by money-launderers, to implement the necessary regulations to control financial transactions.  Mr. Maertens pointed out that the issue of money-laundering relating to illicit drug trade had been on the agenda of the United Nations since it was first  referred to in the Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 1988.

In response to a question on what was being done by the international community in Afghanistan to fight illicit opium production, Ms. Tullis pointed out the wide range of UNODC’s technical assistance programmes in Afghanistan, especially in the area of crop monitoring, but also in public health education, prevention and alternative livelihoods.

In response to a question on why the global consumption for cannabis was increasing, while that of other illicit drugs was stabilizing, Ms. Tullis answered that one reason for this was that cannabis was not perceived to be a dangerous drug. Another reason was the higher availability of cannabis, compared to other illicit drugs.

The briefing was attended by 24 media representatives, including international media such as BBC, ARD, China Economic Daily, Sekkai Nippon, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, El Pais, as well as leading Austrian media, including ORF Austrian television and Die Presse.