This report presents supply and demand statistics and analyses on the evolution of the global illicit drug problem thus allowing for an objective and up-to-date assessment of the world drug situation. The report is divided into two parts. The first deals with trends in illicit drug production trafficking and consumption while the second provides the statistics on which the globally aggregated estimates and trends are based. Most of the information included in this report comes from data extracted from the annual report questionnaire (ARQ) sent by governments to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2002 and from supplementary documents prepared by various sources.

The Global Illicit Drug Trends presents statistics on production trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs worldwide. These statistics are supplemented by analysis which focuses on the issue of Clandestine Synthetic Drugs. The discussion includes the phenomenon of synthetic drugs its intrinsic characteristics and some of its likely future developments. The second special theme of this year's report concentrates on Main Centres of Illicit Opium Production and tries to explain why production has reached such high levels in Afghanistan and Myanmar. Numerous tables graphs and maps enrich the report.

While the supply side dimensions of the international drug problem have been recognized for decades the demand side has traditionally been considered a domestic issue not conducive to international assessment. The present report based on data obtained primarily from the annual reports questionnaires (ARQ) received by UNDCP up to February 1999 presents not only the supply side data but also the demand side data in an effort to give a balanced approach in the assessment of the drug problem. In addressing the global trends in illicit drug supply and trafficking the report discusses cultivation manufacture trafficking routes methods of transportation and seizures. On the demand side the report focuses on global trends the extent of drug abuse drug abuse among youth and prison populations modes of intake and costs and the consequences of drug abuse. Comprehensive statistical tables presented for multiple years will greatly facilitate comparative studies.