Under the title "International Report: Increase in Cannabis Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sky News published an article stating that around 275 million people worldwide used drugs last year, with 36 million suffering from drug-related complications, according to the World Drug Report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The report, released in Vienna, indicated that many countries saw a rise in cannabis (marijuana) use during the COVID-19 pandemic. In surveys of health workers in 77 countries, 42 percent reported an increase in cannabis use. There was also an observed increase in the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes during the same period.
The report highlighted that over the last 24 years, cannabis use has quadrupled in some areas, while the percentage of teenagers who view cannabis as harmful has decreased by about 40 percent. This development comes despite evidence linking cannabis use to a range of health harms, particularly among long-term regular users. Ghada Wali, the executive director of the office, stated, "The perception of lower risks associated with drug use is linked to higher rates of use, and the findings in the office's 2021 report reflect the need to bridge the gap between perception and reality for youth awareness and public health protection."
According to the latest global estimates, approximately 5.5 percent of individuals aged 15 to 64 used drugs at least once last year, while 36.3 million people, or 13 percent of the total drug users, suffer from complications due to drug use, according to the report. Globally, it is estimated that more than 11 million people use drugs via injection, half of whom are infected with hepatitis. Opioids continue to be the leading cause of drug-use-related harm, according to the report.
