In 2009;; the United Nations Member States decided to make further and decisive progress;; within a decade;; in controlling illicit drug supply and demand. Many illicit drug markets have reached global dimensions and require control strategies on a comparable scale. In that context;; there is a need to better understand these transnational markets and the manner in which they operate. This year's World Drug Report is a contribution towards that objective. It opens with an analytical discussion of three key transnational drug markets: the markets for heroin;; cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants. The market discussion is followed by a presentation of statistical trends for all major drug categories. The latest information on drug production;; seizures and consumption is presented. Finally;; there is a discussion on the relationship between drug trafficking and instability.