World Drug Report 2021

The World Drug Report 2021 is a flagship global publication produced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) providing an in-depth empirical analysis of global illicit drug markets, supply chains, and consumption trends. Comprising five distinct booklets, the 2021 edition examines the dynamic interaction between international drug supply, health risks, and law enforcement responses, with a special thematic focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global drug dynamics. The report details how pandemic-related economic hardship, border disruptions, and supply chain adaptations accelerated digital drug trafficking via darknet platforms, increased contactless distribution models, and exacerbated health vulnerabilities among drug users. Individual volumes cover global supply and demand trends across major drug categories (cannabis, opioids, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, and new psychoactive substances), regional market variations, health consequences, and the intersection between drug trafficking, environmental harm, and socio-economic development. Designed to foster international cooperation and evidence-based policymaking, this comprehensive open-access resource serves as an essential primary reference for academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, social workers, and policymakers in criminology, public health, global governance, and international development.