WORLDWIDE PROFILE OF

DRUG ABUSE
 WORLDWIDE PROFILE OF
DRUG ABUSE
• COLLECTIVELY, SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUG USE KILLS 11.8 MILLION PEOPLE EACH
YEAR. THIS IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CANCERS.
• SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE IS AN IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR EARLY DEATH: 11.4
MILLION DIE PREMATURELY AS A RESULT EACH YEAR.
• OVER 350,000 DIE FROM OVERDOSES (ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUG USE DISORDERS) EACH YEAR.
• SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS ARE MUCH MORE COMMON IN MEN.MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE
WHO DIE FROM ALCOHOL OR DRUG OVERDOSES ARE YOUNGER THAN 50.
• 1.5% OF GLOBAL DISEASE BURDEN RESULTS FROM ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUG ADDICTION; IN
SOME COUNTRIES IT’S OVER 5%.
 TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE WORST DRUG
ABUSE
• IRAN .
ADDICTION RATES IN IRAN ARE HIGH COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES, WITH
A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION USING DRUGS LIKE
OPIUM (INCLUDING HEROIN) AND CRYSTAL METH. THE COUNTRY DOES OFFER
SOME METHODS FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS: METHADONE CLINICS,
NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND CHARITIES THAT WORK TO FIGHT
ADDICTION.
 TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE WORST DRUG
ABUSE
• AFGHANISTAN
THE WORLD’S NUMBER ONE PRODUCER OF OPIUM, AFGHANISTAN IS THE CENTER OF THE OPIUM
TRADE AND NOW REFINES SOME OF ITS OPIUM INTO HEROIN. ONE NEWS REPORT ESTIMATES THAT 1
MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE ADDICTED TO DRUGS OUT OF A POPULATION OF 35 MILLION. 
• RUSSIA
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE 1 MILLION HEROIN USERS, ALTHOUGH OTHER EXPERTS
BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS CLOSER TO 2 MILLION.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DO NOT SUPPORT HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES, SUCH AS
METHADONE CLINICS OR NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, FAVORING A PUNITIVE APPROACH TO
DRUG USE THAT INCARCERATES DRUG USERS. AS A RESULT, RUSSIA HAS ONE OF THE FASTEST-
GROWING HIV/AIDS EPIDEMICS ON THE PLANET.
 TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE WORST DRUG
ABUSE
• THE UNITED STATES
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A BIG PRODUCER OR TRAFFICKER OF DRUGS, BUT IT IS AMONG THE
WORLD’S TOP USERS OF ILLICIT SUBSTANCES.
MARIJUANA IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED ILLICIT DRUG IN AMERICA WITH 22.2 MILLION
CURRENT USERS, WHILE 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE MISUSE PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS. 
• GREAT BRITAIN

MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE IN GREAT BRITAIN REPORT TRYING DRUGS, AND AROUND 3
MILLION TAKE THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
MARIJUANA IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED DRUG, FOLLOWED BY AMPHETAMINES AND COCAINE. 7
 TOP 5 COUNTRIES WITH THE WORST DRUG
ABUSE
• IRAN .
ADDICTION RATES IN IRAN ARE HIGH COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES, WITH
A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULATION USING DRUGS LIKE
OPIUM (INCLUDING HEROIN) AND CRYSTAL METH. THE COUNTRY DOES OFFER
SOME METHODS FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS: METHADONE CLINICS,
NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND CHARITIES THAT WORK TO FIGHT
ADDICTION.
 TOP LIST OF DRUGS ABUSED

• COCAINE
• HEROIN
• KRATOM
• MARIJUANA
• METHAMPHETAMINE
• OPIOIDS
• PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
• TOBACCO/NICOTINE AND VAPING