Global Drug Use Tops 316M, Cocaine Market Hits Record High

A new report from the United Nations reveals that global drug use continues to climb, with 316 million people worldwide consuming illicit substances in 2023. This figure represents 6% of the global population aged 15 to 64up  from 5.2% in 2013 excluding legal substances like alcohol and tobacco.

The data, released Thursday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna as part of its 2025 World Drug Report, paints a picture of a rapidly evolving global drug landscape.

Cannabis remains the most widely used drug with 244 million users, followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million), and ecstasy (21 million).

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly warned of the growing sophistication of trafficking networks:
“This year’s report shows how drug trafficking groups are adapting quickly, exploiting global turmoil and preying on vulnerable populations. We must tackle this threat by investing in prevention, dismantling supply chains, and offering sustainable alternatives.”

Waly emphasized the need for a multi-pronged strategy harnessing technology, improving cross-border collaboration, targeting key criminal figures, and expanding economic opportunities in at-risk communities.

Among the most alarming findings: the cocaine trade is expanding at an unprecedented rate. Global production of the drug jumped by over a third in 2023, reaching a record 3,708 tons. The number of users climbed from 17 million in 2013 to 25 million in 2023.

UN analysts linked the cocaine surge to increasing violence between criminal groups, noting that Western and Central Europe have now overtaken North America in cocaine seizures—underscoring the continent’s growing role in the illicit trade.