More than 11 million people inject drugs worldwide – Report
The World Drug Report 2022 revealed that more than 11 million people worldwide inject drugs.
Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the report explains that injecting drug use is a high-risk activity and a major cause of drug-related harm, as people who inject drugs (PWID) experience multiple negative health consequences.
“Injecting drug use is associated with elevated risks of fatal and non-fatal overdose and the development of serious and life-threatening infectious diseases,” he noted.
Compared to the estimated global prevalence of injecting drug use for 2019, which was also 0.22% of the population aged 15-64, the report notes that there was no change measurable up to the last estimate.
UNODC, UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank have jointly estimated that approximately 11.2 million people worldwide inject drugs in 2020.
The report indicates that approximately 59% of PWIDs worldwide reside in East and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and North America.
READ ALSO:He also noted that the most common combinations of substances that people inject, including in Africa, are cannabis-type drugs, opioids, often called painkillers; stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers, and new psychoactive substances (NPS).
In the African region, PWID associates cannabis with heroin or pharmaceutical opioids, NPS with sedatives/tranquilizers; Americans combine herbal cannabis and cocaine, opioids and stimulants, while in Europe they combine heroin with cocaine or "crack" cocaine, cannabis with NPS, or with cocaine and cocaine. 'ecstasy, among others.
PWID at risk of HIV, hepatitis CThe report further notes that PWIDs are susceptible to transmission of the virus through unsafe injection practices such as sharing needles and syringes.
According to a recent global systematic review, an estimated 18% of IDUs engaged in receptive needle-syringe sharing at the last injection, 24% in the past month, and 33% in the last injection. past year.
The UN report adds that around one in eight people who inject drugs are living with HIV while half are living with hepatitis C.
“HIV and hepatitis C continue to disproportionately affect PWIDs. The potential impact of increased susceptibility of PWID to these diseases may impact the wider community, as there is a risk of blood-borne, sexually transmitted or mother-to-child transmission,” a- he noted.
He added that PWID accounted for 9% of new HIV infections among adults globally in 2020, with the proportion rising to 20% outside of sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV disproportionately affects adolescent girls and boys. young women.
Impact of COVID-19 on drug useSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the report indicates that some countries have reported overall increases in drug use, particularly among people who already use them frequently, and mainly during the first lockdown .
He added that “increased relapses or high risk of relapses in substance use were also observed in the Bahamas, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Africa and the United States.”< /p>
The report also confirmed an overall increase in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, especially during the first lockdowns, a decrease in drug use among adolescents and a drop in vaccination against COVID -19 in people who use drugs "although they are a priority group for this intervention".
Commenting on the report, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said, "This is the first global drug report in the post-pandemic world. As countries continue to fight COVID- 19 and its consequences, we have emerged from cycles of confinement to face a new normal.
"The World Drug Report aims to provide the data and information needed for our joint efforts. This year's edition looks at the interplay between drugs and conflict, the impact of drugs on the environment and effects of cannabis legalization, and identifies dynamics to watch, from the opiate market in light of developments in Afghanistan to drug sales on the dark web.
"I hope the report will serve as the basis for effective responses and generate the support we need to continue to shed light on different aspects of the world drug problem and help Member States take action and save lives."
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The World Drug Report 2022 revealed that more than 11 million people worldwide inject drugs.
Published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the report explains that injecting drug use is a high-risk activity and a major cause of drug-related harm, as people who inject drugs (PWID) experience multiple negative health consequences.
“Injecting drug use is associated with elevated risks of fatal and non-fatal overdose and the development of serious and life-threatening infectious diseases,” he noted.
Compared to the estimated global prevalence of injecting drug use for 2019, which was also 0.22% of the population aged 15-64, the report notes that there was no change measurable up to the last estimate.
UNODC, UNAIDS, WHO and the World Bank have jointly estimated that approximately 11.2 million people worldwide inject drugs in 2020.
The report indicates that approximately 59% of PWIDs worldwide reside in East and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and North America.
READ ALSO:He also noted that the most common combinations of substances that people inject, including in Africa, are cannabis-type drugs, opioids, often called painkillers; stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers, and new psychoactive substances (NPS).
In the African region, PWID associates cannabis with heroin or pharmaceutical opioids, NPS with sedatives/tranquilizers; Americans combine herbal cannabis and cocaine, opioids and stimulants, while in Europe they combine heroin with cocaine or "crack" cocaine, cannabis with NPS, or with cocaine and cocaine. 'ecstasy, among others.
PWID at risk of HIV, hepatitis CThe report further notes that PWIDs are susceptible to transmission of the virus through unsafe injection practices such as sharing needles and syringes.
According to a recent global systematic review, an estimated 18% of IDUs engaged in receptive needle-syringe sharing at the last injection, 24% in the past month, and 33% in the last injection. past year.
The UN report adds that around one in eight people who inject drugs are living with HIV while half are living with hepatitis C.
“HIV and hepatitis C continue to disproportionately affect PWIDs. The potential impact of increased susceptibility of PWID to these diseases may impact the wider community, as there is a risk of blood-borne, sexually transmitted or mother-to-child transmission,” a- he noted.
He added that PWID accounted for 9% of new HIV infections among adults globally in 2020, with the proportion rising to 20% outside of sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV disproportionately affects adolescent girls and boys. young women.
Impact of COVID-19 on drug useSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the report indicates that some countries have reported overall increases in drug use, particularly among people who already use them frequently, and mainly during the first lockdown .
He added that “increased relapses or high risk of relapses in substance use were also observed in the Bahamas, Canada, Israel, Japan, South Africa and the United States.”< /p>
The report also confirmed an overall increase in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, especially during the first lockdowns, a decrease in drug use among adolescents and a drop in vaccination against COVID -19 in people who use drugs "although they are a priority group for this intervention".
Commenting on the report, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said, "This is the first global drug report in the post-pandemic world. As countries continue to fight COVID- 19 and its consequences, we have emerged from cycles of confinement to face a new normal.
"The World Drug Report aims to provide the data and information needed for our joint efforts. This year's edition looks at the interplay between drugs and conflict, the impact of drugs on the environment and effects of cannabis legalization, and identifies dynamics to watch, from the opiate market in light of developments in Afghanistan to drug sales on the dark web.
"I hope the report will serve as the basis for effective responses and generate the support we need to continue to shed light on different aspects of the world drug problem and help Member States take action and save lives."
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