WHO: 252 Million People Engage in Illicit Drug Use Globally

•US trains Nigeria, others on effective drug enforcement

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 292 million people (5.6 percent of those between the ages of 15 and 64) used drugs in 2022.

This revelation comes as special agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) move to host an advanced-level course for 35 law enforcement, prosecutors, magistrates, and training personnel from Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.

According to the WHO, there are 64 million individuals suffering from drug use disorders.

A statement by the organisation revealed that, “In 2022, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, an estimated 6.7 percent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years used drugs, and more than 3.4 million people suffered from drug use disorders.”

It noted that despite the alarming levels of substance use, and the fact that investing in substance use treatment offers returns of between US$4 to $12 for every dollar spent, in 2022, only one in 11 individuals with drug use disorder globally, and one in 13 in the region, received treatment.

In the statement issued to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, WHO urged governments, health organisations, and communities across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and globally to unite in combating drug use disorders.

“Together, we can create a healthier future for all by ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to the care and support they need.

“The regional flagship initiative on accelerating public health action on substance use is a call for decisive, collective action to confront one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time.

“With the right investments in sustainable, evidence-based solutions, we can significantly reduce morbidity, mortality, and the social costs associated with drug use disorders and build a more stable society.

“On International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked on 26 June, the WHO is highlighting the drug trade’s devastating effects on the health and well-being of populations.

“Drug use impacts security, safety, and development, costing some countries up to two percent of their GDP due to health-related expenses, crime, and lost productivity.

“Beyond its economic burden, drug use constitutes a significant public health issue, linked to a range of health issues, including mental health conditions, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases.

 “Despite these public health implications, drug use has been overwhelmingly addressed through a law enforcement and supply restriction lens, using strategies that reinforce stigma and overlook the health dimensions of the issue.”

WHO said that in order to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the social costs associated with substance use disorders, its regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean launched the “Regional Flagship Initiative on Accelerating Public Health Action on Substance Use” in October 2024.

It said the initiative aims to strengthen coordination and collaboration and prevent the initiation of substance use through evidence-based interventions such as promoting life skills education in both schools and workplaces.

“Rather than relying on punitive measures, it promotes policies and regulations that prioritise evidence-based treatments and harm reduction programmes across health and social care systems, and advocates for evidence-based interventions for drug use disorders to be embedded in UHC benefit packages.

“To expedite implementation of the substance use flagship initiative, the Regional Office has established a Regional Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Mental Health and Substance Use and a Regional Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention to engage and empower civil society organisations, and people with lived experience of drug use disorders, to advance public health actions across the Region.

“The flagship initiative calls for decisive, collective action to address one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time.

“Through investments in sustainable, evidence-based solutions, we can significantly improve public health outcomes and foster social stability for future generations.

“Given current resource constraints, the need for effective collaboration is greater than ever. We must join forces, align our strategies, and pursue joint actions to achieve more with less.”

Meanwhile, the United States DEA will host an advanced-level course for 35 law enforcement, prosecutors, magistrates, and training personnel from Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.

According to a statement by the U.S. Embassy, the training addresses the growing threat of transnational drug trafficking across West and Southern Africa, where criminal networks are increasingly using the region as a transit and distribution hub for illicit narcotics.

The statement added that the course is to strengthen participants’ capacity to lead complex investigations, with a focus on international controlled deliveries, conspiracy cases, inter-agency coordination, and operational planning – reinforced through scenario-based exercises.

It added that all programmes at the International Law Enforcement Academy – Gaborone are intended to bring partner countries together to promote cross-border cooperation and enhance regional efforts to disrupt organised drug crime.

Established in 2000, the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Gaborone is Africa’s premier institution for law enforcement training and regional security cooperation.

It is a joint initiative between the United States and the Government of Botswana. ILEA Gaborone has trained over 18,000 law enforcement and justice officials from more than 38 African nations.

Backed by Botswana’s annual in-kind support and staffed by instructors from 16 U.S. agencies, ILEA delivers cutting-edge instruction on transnational crime, fostering lasting U.S.-Africa partnerships.