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1. INTRODUCTION

Illicit use of controlled substances
Data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (ODC) show large-
scale seizures of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants
in different parts of the world. Availability of cocaine, heroin and cannabis
depends on the level of cultivation in source countries and on the success or
failure of trafficking organizations. However, even with increased levels of
law enforcement activities, there always seems to be enough drugs available
to users.
According to ODC estimates (UNODCCP, 2002), about 185 million people
make illicit use of one type of illicit substance or another. Table 1.3 shows
that cannabis is consumed by the largest number of illicit drug users, followed
by amphetamines, cocaine and the opiates.
Illicit drug use is a predominantly male activity, much more so than
cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Drug use is also more prevalent
among young people than in older age groups. Several national and multi-
national surveys have provided data on drug use in different groups. For
example, in the USA, the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)
has served as a source of useful information on drug use in the general
population, and the Monitoring the Future project provides data on drug use
by young people in secondary schools. The European School Survey Project
on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), an initiative of the Council of Europe,
has become a data source on youth drug use for many European countries.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
also provides regular data on drug use (including hazardous methods of use,
such as injecting drug use (IDU)) in European countries. While national
surveys of youth and adults are held on a regular basis in some countries,
reliable data on drug use is generally lacking in most developing countries.

Table 1.3 Annual prevalence of global illicit drug use over the period 1998–
2001

All Cannabis Amphetamine- Cocaine All opiates Heroin
illicit drugs type stimulants
Amphe- Ecstasy
tamines
Number of users 185.0 147.4 33.4 7.0 13.4 12.9 9.20
(in millions)
Proportion of 3.1 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.15
global population (%)
Proportion of 4.3 3.5 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.22
population 15 years
and above (%)
Source: UNODCCP, 2002.

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