Global drug trends took a sharp turn in 2023, with cocaine production reaching its highest level ever recorded. According to the latest report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), output jumped 34% in just one year, pushing the global total to 3,708 tonnes. This is four times more than a decade ago. While drug use is growing across the board, the rapid expansion of cocaine production is raising concerns about trafficking, consumption, and shifting global demand.
Cocaine Market Expands Into New Territories
At the heart of the surge is Colombia, where coca bush cultivation continues to rise. But it’s not just production that’s up. The global cocaine seizures hit a record 2,275 tonnes in 2023, and the number of users worldwide climbed to 25 million. This is up from 17 million in 2013. What’s fueling this growth? Rising demand from wealthier users in Europe, North America, and increasingly Asia and Africa. These new demands give traffickers the chance to tap into new distribution routes and consumer markets.
It also shows that the cocaine market is no longer confined to traditional strongholds. Now sophisticated smuggling operations are targeting regions that are considered low-risk. The traffickers use different sea, air, and land routes to evade detection. Authorities are now grappling with the dual challenge of cutting supply chains while also addressing demand in places unprepared for a cocaine influx.
Global Drug Use Reaches New Heights
Cocaine wasn’t the only drug making headlines in 2023. The UNODC report notes that overall global drug use has continued to climb. Cannabis remains the most consumed drug worldwide, while amphetamine-type stimulants and synthetic opioids also saw record levels of seizure.
Meanwhile, Syria’s captagon trade continues despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, raising concerns about hidden reserves or new production centers emerging in the region. These trends suggest that drug markets are becoming more fragmented, more adaptive, and increasingly difficult to monitor.
As production and consumption both hit new highs, authorities and health organizations are facing a rapidly evolving drug landscape—one where old rules no longer apply.
