Drug Use and Abuse Around the World

Drug use is prevalent around the globe—no continent is free from illicit substance abuse. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) roughly 5 percent of the world’s population aged 15-64 have experimented with drugs at some point in their lives.

While less than one percent of this group will become problematic drug users, spending time in drug rehab centers is often the only solution to their addiction. Unfortunately, only one in six drugs users globally is able to access life-saving decency treatment programs.

Here’s the breakdown on the global epidemic of drug use.

Drug Use and Abuse Around the World IG