UN anti-drug agency sees significant drop in coca and opium poppy farming

A new United Nations report issued today shows significant declines in worldwide heroin and cocaine markets as opium poppy farming continues its downward trend in the "Golden Triangle," and fewer acres of land are being used for illicit coca bush cultivation in the Andean region.

The 2003 Global Illicit Drug Trends Report, launched in Paris today by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlights the good news coming out of the world's two major drug producing regions as well other important developments and negative trends on the abuse side, especially in Europe, Russia and Asia. The report's release is timed to coincide with tomorrow's observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

According to the report, areas under poppy cultivation in Myanmar and Laos - along with Thailand, part of the so-called Golden Triangle - have been reduced by some 40 per cent between 1998 and 2002, with that downward trend continuing this year. Globally, compared to 1999's bumper harvest, opium-production last year was some 22 per cent lower.

"If the current reduction of opium cultivation is sustained, the Golden Triangle could well become a minor source of narcotics in the next few years, said UNDOC Executive-Director Antonio Maria Costa, who added that the agency was also pleased about the major reduction in the world cocaine supply.

The report notes that in the Andean region, Colombia has achieved a very significant decline of coca bush cultivation - amounting to a 37 per cent decrease between 2000 and 2002. Bolivia has become an "almost marginal source," and Peru has reduced coca cultivation by about 60 per cent since 1995.

Even with those advances, however, Mr. Costa noted several negative trends, chiefly that growth of opium production in Afghanistan has increased the heroin market in the region, as well as in Central Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe. "The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been expanding at an alarming rate due mainly to the increase in intravenous heroin abuse," he added.

The report also confirms the emergence of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) - synthetic drugs that include metamphetamines and Ecstasy - as "Public Enemy Number One" of the illicit drug trade. The readily available nature of ATS drugs and the fact that they are easily concealed is made more worrisome because too many people condoned their abuse, thus increasing their acceptability, Mr. Costa said.