The World Drug Report presents a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in drug markets. It covers production;; trafficking;; consumption and related health consequences. Chapter 1 of this year’s report examines the global situation and the latest trends in the different drug markets and the extent of illicit drug use;; as well as the related health impact. Chapter 2 addresses the phenomenon of new psychoactive substances (NPS);; which can have deadly consequences for their users but are hard to control;; with dynamic;; fastmutating producers and “product lines” which have emerged over the past decade.

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. The yearly World Drug Report is a contribution towards that objective. This year's edition starts with an overview of the illicit drug situation worldwide and regionally;; followed by more comprehensive discussions and statistical trends for the key transnational drug markets;; namely opium/heroin;; coca/cocaine;; amphetamine-type stimulants and cannabis.

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.