The global drug trade is becoming more complex, unpredictable and dangerous, as synthetic drugs spread into new markets and traffickers develop ever more potent substances.
That is according to the 2026 World Drug Report from the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime, which highlights a rapidly evolving crisis driven by synthetic opioids, gaps in treatment, and growing links between conflict and drug trafficking.
In an interview with UN News, the report’s lead Researcher, Chloé Carpentier, says adolescents, women and people in humanitarian settings are among the most at risk.
She calls for stronger international co-operation to respond to the changing drug landscape.
–Channel Africa–
