global illicit drug trends 2003 - United Nations Office on Drugs and ...

Global Illicit Drug Trends <strong>2003</strong>
Chapter 1. Trends: Consumption - ATS
Ecstasy
Annual prevalence estimates of abuse of amphetamines: 2000-2001
Number of people
(in million)
in % of population
age 15 and above
OCEANIA 0.62 2.78
EUROPE 3.31 0.51
- West Europe 2.25 0.50
- East Europe 2.4 0.50
AMERICAS 5.6 0.93
- North America 2.56 0.82
- South America 3.04 1.04
AFRICA 2.25 0.50
ASIA 22.5 0.89
GLOBAL 34.28 0.81
Abuse above <strong>global</strong> average
Abuse close to <strong>global</strong> average
Abuse below <strong>global</strong> average
Sources: UNODC, Annual Reports Questionnaire data, various Govt. reports, reports of regional bodies, UNODC
estimates.
About 0.2% of the <strong>global</strong> population (age 15 and above) consume ecstasy. Rates significantly above
the <strong>global</strong> average have been reported from countries in Oceania, West Europe and North America.
Some 40% of <strong>global</strong> consumption is concentrated in Europe and, following strong growth rates in
recent years, almost 50% in North America. West Europe and North America together account for
around 90% of <strong>global</strong> abuse. Ecstasy abuse, however, is spreading to East Europe as well as to
developing countries, notably in the Americas, southern Africa, the Near and Middle East as well as
South-East Asia. A number of school surveys in countries outside West Europe, North America and
Oceania confirm the increasing importance of ecstasy as a <strong>drug</strong> of choice among youth.
Annual prevalence estimates of abuse of ecstasy: 2000-2001
Number of people
(in million)
in % of population
age 15 and above
OCEANIA 0.56 2.15
EUROPE 3.25 0.50
- West Europe 2.91 0.78
- East Europe 0.35 0.13
AMERICAS 3.73 0.64
- North America 3.46 1.11
- South America 0.31 0.12
AFRICA 0.01 0.002
ASIA 0.14 0.01
GLOBAL 7.74 0.18
Abuse above <strong>global</strong> average
Abuse close to <strong>global</strong> average
Abuse below <strong>global</strong> average
Sources: UNODC, Annual Reports Questionnaire data, various Govt. reports, reports of regional bodies, UNODC
estimates.
143