June 29, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report shows that opioid-related drugs, including heroin and legal painkillers, account for two-thirds of drug-related deaths. About 35 million people use drugs improperly. In 2017, about 11 million people injected drugs, resulting in 1.4 million people infected with HIV and 5.6 million people with hepatitis C. In statement of Executive Director, Yury Fedotov declared that the global control of drugs should be challenged and that a wide range of international cooperation should be promoted to provide a corresponding approach.

One reason for the increase in the use of opioids is the increase in consumption of cannabis. Opium is an illegal drug coming from heroin-opium poppies, including a mixture of fentanyl and other synthetics. The total amount of related drugs used increased by 56% in 2017 compared to 2016. With fentanyl as the center, similar drugs, the number of deaths in overdose in the United States and Canada, increased by 51,000 cases. In addition, Tramadol has recently been popular in Africa, jumping from less than 10 kg in 2010 to around 1,252 tons in 2017.

Tramadol is one of the most widely used drugs for non-medical purposes after marijuana. West African countries report that it is used for sedation, pain relief, and anti-fatigue to improve intelligence, physical strength, and to reduce sleep and appetite. In the agricultural community, even some people use the tramadol to feed the livestock so that they can work with harsh weather. In other respects, some people use this drug as an entertaining drug, which is hyper and extremely exciting, or to enhance sexual endurance.

Photo:Webshot.