UNODC monitors global and regional developments in the demand for drugs, including the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs, through various channels and activities, including regular reporting from Member States, household surveys and targeted studies of high-risk drug users and vulnerable population groups.
Information from these sources is used to produce datasets but also analysed holistically to provide an overall picture of the many challenges the world faces in terms of drug use and health consequences, covering aspects such as trends in extent and patterns of drug use, risk behaviours, drug related morbidity and mortality and coverage of drug treatment for those suffering from drug use disorders.
For the first time since its conception, this year the World Drug Report consists of two products, a web-based element and a set of booklets. The latest global, regional and subregional estimates of and trends in drug demand and supply are presented in a user-friendly, interactive online segment. While Special points of interest include key takeaways and policy implications, booklet 1 takes the form of an executive summary based on analysis of the key findings of the online segment and the thematic booklet 2 and the conclusions that can be drawn from them. In addition to providing an in-depth analysis of key developments and emerging trends in selected drug markets, including in countries currently experiencing conflict, booklet 2 focuses on a number of other contemporary issues related to drugs.
In addition to the annual review of latest trends on drug use and health consequences and focused analyses on drug demand generated for the World Drug Report, drug use is addressed in topical research on drug markets, including that on opiates from Afghanistan,on cocaine, and that on drug demand in Ukraine.
National surveys on drug use supported by UNODC
Study on substance use and health among youth in Afghanistan 2018 (April 2021)
Drug situation in Afghanistan 2021 - Latest findings and emerging threats 2021
Drug use in Pakistan 2021 (ongoing)
High risk drug use in Kazakhstan 2021 (ongoing)
High risk drug use in Uzbekistan 2021 (ongoing)
Drug use in Guatemala 2021 (ongoing)
School survey on drug use in Senegal 2020 (forthcoming)
Study on substance use and health among youth in Afghanistan 2018 (forthcoming)
Rapport sur l'enquête sur la consommation de substances et la santé chez les élèves des écoles secondaires en Côte d'Ivoire 2019
Youth survey on drug use and health in Kazakhstan 2018
Drug use in Nigeria 2018
Estimating the extent of illicit drug use in Palestine 2017
Youth substance use in Tajikistan 2016
National study on problematic drug users (size estimation and patterns of drug abuse) Albania 2014-2015
Drug use in Pakistan 2013
Drug use in Afghanistan 2009
Problem drug use in Pakistan: results from the year 2006 national assessment
UNODC also supports Member States in developing capacity to design and implement methodologically sound surveys and assessments of drug use, as well as develop and implement integrated drug information systems and establishments of national drug observatories
Resources on drug use epidemiology
Developing an Integrated Drug Information System
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Estimating prevalence: Indirect methods for estimating the size of the drug problem Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Conducting school survey on drug abuse
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Focus Assessment Studies: A qualitative approach to data collection
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Ethical challenges in drug epidemiology: issues, principles and guidelines
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Guidance for the measurement of drug treatment data
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian
Besides its activities on drug use, UNODC research on drug markets also encompasses activities to monitor and analyse drug supply, including activities to assess and monitor drug cultivation, production and manufacture and research on drug trafficking flows, routes and actors at national, regional and international levels.
UNODC regularly updates global statistical series on drugs, including on drug trafficking (drug seizures, drug prices, drug purity, drug-related arrests). These data are available at dataUNODC
Following an extensive review of the current data collection instrument on drugs, the Annual Report Questionnaire, the UNODC, in consultation with experts from the Member States and international organisations, is preparing a revised Annual Report Questionnaire, which will be implemented from 2021.
28-30 August 2019, Second Expert Working Group on improving drug statistics and strengthening the Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ)
29-31 January 2018, Expert Working Group on Improving Drug Statistics and Strengthening the Annual Report Questionnaire (ARQ)
