DUSHANBE, June 29, 2016, Asia-Plus – The World Drug Report 2016 was presented in Dushanbe on June 28.

Chapter I of the World Drug Report 2016 provides a global overview of the supply of and demand for opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health.  It also reviews the scientific evidence on polydrug use, treatment demand for cannabis and developments since the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in some parts of the world.  Chapter II focuses on the mechanisms of the interaction between the world drug problem and all aspects of sustainable development through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The World Drug Report is a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) annual publication that analyzes market trends, compiling detailed statistics on drug markets. Using data, it helps draw conclusions about drugs as an issue needing intervention by government agencies around the world.

The first report was published in 1997, the same year the agency was established.  The agency was tasked with the responsibility of crime prevention, criminal justice and criminal law reform.  The World Drug Report is utilized as an annual overview of the major developments of global drug markets and as a tool to publish evidence-based drug prevention plans

The World Drug Report relies mainly on data submitted by Member States through the Annual Reports Questionnaire (ARQ), which is revised and monitored by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.  The Member States are all required to submit national drug control related information to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime annually, although historically the United Nations does not receive a response from 100% of the surveyed Member States.  The World Drug Report will be based on the submitted information from the prior year.  If there is insufficient information submitted from a Member State or in other relevant circumstances, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will seek information from additional, reliable sources, such as government sources.