Nowadays the global drug problem is being contained. In 2006/07, the global markets for the basic illegal drugs – the opiates, cocaine, cannabis, and amphetamine-type stimulants – remained considerably stable. Particularly notable is the stabilisation seen in the market of cannabiods, which had been expanding rapidly for some time. In line with a long-term trend, the share of total drug manufacture that is seized by law enforcement has also increased – some 42% of global cocaine production and 26% of global heroin production never made it to consumers.
Of course, within this aggregated picture, there remains considerable variation. Most notably, heroin production continued to expand in the conflict-ridden provinces of southern Afghanistan. While global heroin consumption does not appear to be growing, the impact of this surge in supply needs to be monitored carefully.
In general, most indications point to a levelling of growth in all of the main illegal drug markets. This is really good news and may indicate an important juncture in long term drug control. A stable and contained problem is easier to address than one which is expanding chaotically, provided it is seen as an opportunity for renewed commitment rather than an excuse to decrease vigilance.
Most indications are, however, that Member States do have the will to re-commit to drug control. Although it is outside of the scope of this article to assess policy, the estimates and trends contain several examples of progress forged on the back of international collaboration. The extent of international collaboration, the sharing of intelligence, knowledge and experience, as well as the conviction that the drug problem in the world must be tackled on the basis of a ‘shared responsibility’ seem to be growing and bearing fruit.
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