The UN has reported a sharp decline in the production of opium in Afghanistan (used for heroin) and cocoa fields in Columbia (used to make cocaine). In these two countries, which produce over 90% of the world’s supply, crop size has dropped 19 and 18 percent respectively since last year, reflecting government security efforts.
In the report, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime urges the world to shift law enforcement crackdowns from drug users to drug traffickers. Drug use, he said, should be treated as a health issue.