Summarised by Centrist

Australasians are among the highest per-capita users of cocaine and ecstasy in the world, according to the United Nations’ 2025 World Drug Report. 

The report shows that about 3 percent of New Zealanders and Australians aged 15 to 64 used cocaine in 2023, nearly twice the usage rate in the Americas and almost triple that of Europe.

New Zealand and Australia rank as the most lucrative per-capita cocaine markets, the report says.

Wastewater analysis indicates most users are occasional, but the region’s wealth and willingness to pay top dollar make it a key target for traffickers. 

The report also found that more than 12 percent of New Zealand Australia’s adult population uses cannabis, while ecstasy usage remains “by far the highest worldwide.”

The UN says organised crime groups are capitalising on global instability to expand their reach. “We must invest in prevention and address the root causes of the drug trade,” said United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) head Ghada Waly. 

Read more over at The Business Times

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