Only about one in 11 people with drug use disorders received drug treatment globally in 2022, which represents less than 9% of those in need, a decline from 11% in 2015. Various global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have posed significant obstacles to the provision of health services, including drug treatment, according to World Drug Report 2024 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES AND GENDER DISPARITIES
In 2022, approximately 292 million people worldwide used drugs, with many experiencing significant health consequences depending on the drug and the accessibility of relevant health systems. An estimated 64 million people suffered from drug use disorders in 2022, with cannabis and opioids being the primary culprits.
HEALTH IMPACTS OF CANNABIS AND OPIOIDS
Most drug use disorders are linked to harmful patterns of cannabis and opioid use, the two drug types for which most people seek treatment globally. Opioid use, however, tends to have more severe health consequences than cannabis. Opioid use disorders account for the largest burden of disease attributed to drug use disorders, contributing to the majority of healthy years lost due to premature death and disability (71% in 2019) and the highest share of global overdose deaths (69% in 2019).
CANNABIS-RELATED HARM
While cannabis is rarely associated with direct drug-related mortality, it accounts for a substantial share of global drug-related harm due to its high prevalence rates and increasingly harmful patterns of use in some regions. Nearly half of the reporting countries cited cannabis as responsible for the greatest number of drug use disorders, and 38% reported it as the main drug responsible for people entering treatment.
COMORBIDITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH
People with drug use disorders often suffer from other medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Mental health conditions frequently precede and increase the risk of developing drug use disorders, while drug use can also precede and increase the risk of mental health conditions. Major depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric comorbidities observed among people with drug use disorders.
INJECTING DRUG USE AND INFECTIONS
People who inject drugs are a key population for HIV transmission, contributing to more than half of the new HIV infections in 2022. They also carry a high burden of other infections, with nearly one in two people who inject drugs living with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C infections among this group drive the global pool of hepatitis C infections, and liver diseases attributed to hepatitis C are a major cause of drug-related deaths, accounting for more than half of the total number of drug-related deaths globally in 2019.
Regional Disparities in Drug Treatment Coverage
Certain regions display larger gaps than others in the provision of drug-related treatment. In 2022, Europe and Oceania reported the highest drug treatment coverage, with 26% and 14% of people with drug use disorders receiving treatment, respectively. This proportion rose to about 1 in 3 people in sub regions like Western and Southern Europe. In contrast, Africa and Asia showed much lower treatment coverage, at 2.8% and 5.1%, respectively. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the provision of drug-related treatment, particularly in the Americas and Asia, where the treatment coverage between 2020 and 2022 was significantly lower than between 2015 and 2019.
GENDER DISPARITIES IN DRUG TREATMENT
Drug-related treatment coverage is notably lower among women than men in all global regions. In 2022, about one in 18 women with drug use disorders received treatment globally, compared to 1 in 7 men. This disparity is especially pronounced in regions like Africa and Asia, where men in need of drug use treatment were over five times more likely to be treated than women. In Europe, men with drug use disorders were more than twice as likely as women to receive treatment.
BARRIERS TO TREATMENT FOR WOMEN
Women face multiple barriers to accessing drug treatment and other health services. These barriers include stigma, discrimination, and fear of losing custody of their children, which prevent many women from seeking help. Drug services often lack a gender-specific approach, and women may not always be aware of available services. The double stigma of being both a woman and a person who uses drugs further exacerbates these challenges.
IMPACT OF GLOBAL CRISES ON DRUG TREATMENT
The global decline in drug treatment coverage has occurred within a context of various crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely disrupted health service provision. The pandemic posed major obstacles to accessing health services for those in need, contributing to the reduced coverage of drug treatment.
