The UNODC's World Drug Report warns of a flourishing global drug trade, with a surge in new synthetic drugs, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Traffickers exploit global instability and the Taliban's heroin ban in Afghanistan, pushing potent substances into new markets, risking increased harm.
France's Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (OFDT) reported the identification of 40 new synthetic substances between 2024 and 2025, with 26 appearing in 2025. This rise is largely driven by semi-synthetic cannabinoids, with increased collection of samples showing evolving drug compositions.
Over 300 million people used drugs globally in the past year, with around 600,000 dying annually from addiction, according to UNODC World Drug Report 2025. An international forum in Samarkand brought together UN, EU and regional partners to address how synthetic drugs, encrypted communications and cryptocurrencies are transforming trafficking patterns, with Central Asia increasingly serving as both transit corridor and consumption market.
