New synthetic drugs, cocaine and meth booming, warns UN
Summary
The United Nations reports a big rise in new synthetic drugs, cocaine, and methamphetamine worldwide. Drug traffickers are finding new markets, partly due to disruptions like the Taliban’s ban on heroin farming in Afghanistan and conflicts in Syria.Key Facts
- The UN Office on Drugs and Crime released a report showing a sharp increase in drug types, especially synthetic drugs.
- In 2024, there are 755 new psychoactive substances in the market, with 118 identified for the first time.
- The Taliban banned opium farming in Afghanistan in 2022, reducing heroin supply.
- More powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are becoming more common.
- Methamphetamine trafficking grows about 13% each year, expanding into Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.
- The collapse of Syria’s Assad regime disrupted the Captagon drug market, possibly causing users to switch to methamphetamine.
- Cocaine production reached over 4,000 tonnes in 2024, four times more than ten years ago.
- Organized crime groups are spreading cocaine into new regions while improving quality and lowering prices.
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