Number of drug addicts may exceed 300M users in 2030 worldwide: UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly

CAIRO – 28 June 2021: The number of drug addicts around the world expected to increase in the coming years, and may exceed 300 million drug users in 2030 according to Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly.

In statements to the Egyption privately-owned channel on TV, Sunday, Waly added that countries with high population growth are the countries that will be more likely to have an increase in drug use.

She noted that the rates of drug abuse in European countries will decrease, in contrast to African countries and other poor spots around the world which will be witnessing an increase in the drug dealing and abuse.

On June 25, Waly said that Around 275 million people used drugs worldwide last year, while over 36 million others suffered from drug use disorders.

In a statement on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Waly said drugs destroy health of individuals, noting that half a million of people died of drugs in 2019.

She made clear that coronavirus pandemic raised awareness of the vital role of reliable scientific information and the strength of society in influencing healthy choices, pointing out that we must urgently take advantage of this potential to address the global drug problem.

Waly noted that 2021’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking focused on sharing facts about drugs and ways to save lives, stressing the need for greater investments in health, science and data around the world.

She stressed that only one in eight people who need drug-related treatment receive treatment, calling on governments to expand prevention and treatment programs as well as monitoring and early warning mechanisms to help low-income countries discover and combat new narcotics.