ISLAMABAD: The World Drug Report 2016, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Wednesday, has stated that many people are turning to the Internet in order to purchase drugs around the world.

UNODC country representative Cesar Guedes told Dawn that many people have taken to committing crimes using the Internet, because the chances of getting caught are slimmer.

“With every passing year the number of people who use the Internet to buy drugs, is increasing. In other words technology is being utilised to sell and purchase drugs and it has become as easy as people buy a pizza over the Internet or cell phones,” he said.

“The chances of punishment are also less while buying drugs through the Internet,” he said.

The report states that in 2014, 38pc of people used the Dark Net to purchase MDMA in powder form (commonly known as ecstasy), 30pc purchased LSD, 25pc bought cannabis and 15pc bought cocaine.

As many as 247 million people all over the world, or one in 20 people between the ages of 15 and 64, use drugs.

UNODC World Drug Report 2016 launched

The report said that over 29 million people who use drugs suffer from a drug use disorder. Upto 12 million people are intravenous drug users, and 1.6 million of such users are living with HIV. The report said that 6 million such users are living with hepatitis C. In 2014, 207,400 drug related deaths occurred.

Cannabis remained the most commonly used drug at a global level, with 183 million users in 2014. Amphetamines were the second most commonly used, with 33 million users, while opiates were less common but remained a major cause of health consequences.

The report said men are three times more likely than women to use cannabis, cocaine or amphetamines, while women are more likely to engage in the non-medical use of opioids and tranquilisers.

It said drug related deaths were higher in developed rather than in developing countries. A total of 39,200 people between the ages of 15 and 64 died of drug-related causes in Africa, while 52,500 people died in North America and 85,900 people died in Asia in 2014.

Mr Guedes said the report followed April’s UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem, in which Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also participated.

“Pakistan is highly affected by drugs as they are grown or manufactured in neighbouring Afghanistan. So far, 19 WDRs have been published that have given an overview of the global situation,” he said.

Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control Secretary Ajaz Ali Khan said that according to reports, a number of drugs manufactured in Afghanistan are smuggled through other countries through Pakistan.

“The government has been playing its role to stop drug transportation and the international community has also praised Pakistan’s efforts. However, there is a high demand for drugs in the world so the production of drugs is ongoing. We must act together and play a decisive role against drugs by reducing the demand for drugs,” he said.

Mr Ajaz said measures have been undertaken in Pakistan to raise awareness about the drawbacks of drug use, and this would be included in the school curriculum so children can be informed of the health problems that accompany drug use.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2016