WNAM REPORT: In the context of globalization, the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychoactive substances, and their precursors is emerging as a serious threat to human security and sustainable development.
According to the United Nation’s 2024 World Drug Report, approximately 300 million people worldwide (one in every 17 people) use drugs. Of these, more than 60 million suffer from opioid dependence.
Meanwhile, the spread of synthetic drugs is growing rapidly, especially their distribution via the internet (darknet) and with the use of cryptocurrency. This makes the process even more dangerous and virtually uncontrollable.
Today, there are more than 12,000 known types of drugs worldwide. In 2024 alone, over 180 new psychoactive substances were identified.
The UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) is a leading international body in the field of drug control, crime, and anti-corruption. The organization was established in 1997 as a result of the merger of the UN International Drug Control Programme and the International Centre for Crime Prevention.
Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the UNODC is conducted through its Central Asian Regional Office, which was opened in Tashkent in 1993 and continues to operate today. This office provides practical assistance in combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking, as well as organized crime, corruption, and terrorism.
To prevent the threats mentioned above, Uzbekistan adopted its first-ever National Strategy on Combating Drugs and Drug-Related Crimes for 2024–2028 last year.
