17 Most Drug Addicted Countries in the World in 2017

One of the negative effects of globalization is that it has contributed to the conditions for an illegal drug trade, which is why we, at Insider Monkey, decided to analyze this matter by offering you a list of 17 most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017.

Most of us are aware of the negative effects drug abuse has on individuals who experience the pitfalls of drug addiction. Drug abuse interferes with all the aspects of an individual’s life, creating an impediment for them to lead a normal life. However, more often than not, we forget about the repercussions drug abuse has on the society as a whole. Drug addiction creates an environment where crime flourishes, as the state of a mind of a drug addict urges them to resort to virtually any means in order to supply their lifestyle. Furthermore, it has been shown that more than 50 % of the cases of child abuse is perpetrated by parents who are battling substance addiction. I doubt there is a need to elaborate on how drug addiction has negative effects on public health. Globalization as the flow of people, ideas, and goods, has also contributed to an easier flow of drugs. Recognizing that this has become a rising issue, we thought it would be useful to offer our readers an insight into the matter by creating the list of 17 most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017. We already wrote about drug addiction in our article The 11 Most Drug Addicted Countries in the World. Since the context has changed in two years, we are offering you an updated version of the article published two years ago.

In our article on countries that produce the most illegal drugs in the world, we established that Afghanistan, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Morocco are some of the top drug trafficking countries in the world. They are suppliers of different drugs for the world market. Morocco is known as the biggest producer of cannabis, Colombia is the largest cocaine producer, while no other country in the world could come close to Afghanistan when it comes to opium production. As the data from two years ago suggests, the country with biggest drug problems was the United Kingdom. It was followed by Iran, Scotland, France, and Slovakia on the list of the most addicted countries in the world. The report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicates that, if we consider cocaine consumption in 2016, the top 5 most drug addicted cities in Europe were Antwerp (Belgium), London (UK), Zurich (Switzerland), Barcelona (Spain), and Amsterdam (Netherlands). On the other side of the world, the picture is not much different. Asian countries are also trying to get a grip on drug abuse. As BBC notes, Punjab is on its way to becoming the most drug addicted city in India. There is a drugs epidemic in this city that appears to be too much for authorities to handle. If you want to know more about drug-related problems at the global level, be sure to check out 17 Countries with the Biggest Drug Problems in the World we wrote recently.

Unfortunately, there is no data available that would point to some of the least drug addicted countries. There is no questioning that, having in mind the negative effects drug consumption can have on society, it is at every country’s best interest to become the most drug free country in the world. If we consider the statistical data on the number of deaths caused by drug overdose as the indicator of drug addiction in a particular country, Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, Qatar, Oman, and Maldives are some of the most drug free countries in the world.

When creating the list of most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017, I used the data provided in the 2017 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. I also used the data on drug use published in 2017 Global Drug Survey report. I should note that the results are made of participant responses. Furthermore, I used the ranking of countries based on death rate per 100.000 people, where the major cause of death is drug use.

These provided enough material for me to paint the global picture of drug use and rank the 17 most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017.

17. Greece

According to the Global Drug Survey, Greece is ranked 3^rd when it comes to cannabis abuse. 2017 drug report indicates that the country is ranked 22^nd in Europe in drug-induced mortality rates.

16. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom ranks 16th on our list of most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017. It is ranked 3^rd with regards to the use of ecstasy in the Global Drug Survey report. According to the 2017 report on Statistics on Drugs Misuse in England, “deaths related to drug misuse are at their highest level since comparable records began in 1993.”

15. Italy

2017 Global Drug Survey report shows that Italy is ranked 2^nd in cocaine abuse. 2017 drug report indicates that 5.2 in 1000 people are opioid users. The number of deaths due to the drug overdose in 2015 was 305, and it shows a tendency to decrease.

14. Netherlands

2017 drug report shows that the highest number of overdose deaths (197) was recorded in 2015, and the numbers show a worrying tendency to grow. It is estimated that there are around 14000 opioid users in the Netherlands. The most abused drug is cannabis, which is not surprising given its availability in this country.

13. Mexico

It is not a surprise that drug addiction is a serious issue in Mexico which ranks 13th on our list of most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017. In 2017 Global Drug Survey report the country comes 2^nd in its use of joint. Mexicans develop their addiction mostly to cocaine. The data shows that during the period 2002-2008, the number of drug users increased by a million.

12. Brazil

Brazil is at the top of the list with regards to cocaine abuse in the Global Drug Survey report for 2017. As Daily Mail suggests, “Around 6 million adults, or 3 percent of Brazilians, have tried cocaine in some form.” Furthermore, it has been recorded that there is a greater demand for the crack in the past couple of years.

11. Scotland

In the report published by the Global Drug Survey, Scotland is ranked 3^rd in the purchase of NPS or new psychoactive substances. 10.6 % of participants who took the survey have used NPS in the past year. As The Guardian suggests, drug-related deaths in Scotland have more than doubled in the past ten years.

10. Canada

With regards to cocaine use, Canada is ranked 3^rd in the report by the Global Drug Survey. 55.7 % participants have stated that they would like to use less, while 11.8 % have stated that they would like to have some help in trying to combat their cocaine addiction. According to the Canadian Centre for Addictions, drug abuse has cost taxpayers $22.8 billion per year.

9. Ireland

According to 2017 Global Drug Survey report, Ireland is 1^st when it comes to ecstasy addiction. 2017 drug report indicates that the consumption of opioids is decreasing over the years, on the other hand, there is a slight increase in cocaine abuse.

8. Kyrgyzstan

Up next on our list of most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017 is Kyrgyzstan which has the 7^th highest death rate in the world when it comes to drug abuse. The availability of drugs has created the youth which is high at risk of getting addicted. According to the UNDC world drug report for 2017, the most widespread drug in Kyrgyzstan is heroin.

7. Iran

We are continuing our list of most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017 with Iran which is right after the USA when it comes to death rate due to substance abuse (6.28 in 100.000 people). The data shows that, 2.8 million people are regularly consuming drugs. 67 % of them are using opium. The statistical data show that the number of drug addicts has increased in the past couple of years.

6. Afghanistan

Afghanistan is the largest producer of opiate drugs in the world; therefore it is not surprising that it is one of 17 most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017. The data shows that around 11 % of Afghan population uses drugs. 7 % of the population uses opiates.

5. South Africa

The data so far indicates that 11 % of the population of South Africa has addiction problems. Moreover, this country has the 2^nd highest death rate due to substance abuse in the world (8.36 per 100.000 people).

4. Australia

The UN drug report for 2017 indicates that Australia is the final market for ecstasy trafficked from Northern Europe. Furthermore, the Global Drug Survey found that Australians are the biggest bong users in the world. It has been estimated that Australia has one of the highest rates of opioid and cannabis dependence.

3. Colombia

As I wrote in the introduction, Colombia is the biggest producer of cocaine in the world, and this inevitably affects the drug consumption in the country. The data shows that the drug abuse increased 38 % since 2008. The UN report notes that the most widespread drug is marijuana.

2. The United States of America

The USA is ranked at the top with regards to cannabis use in the Global Drug Survey report. Americans appear to be rather curious, as the country is ranked 1^st when it comes to NPS abuse. Furthermore, the USA is ranked 3^rd in the world by death rate by substance abuse (6.96 per 100.000 people).

1. Estonia

When it comes to death rate caused by substance abuse, Estonia has the highest one in the world. It is a staggering number of 10.15 per 100.000 people. The highest number of deaths due to overdose was recorded in 2012. Estonia comes 2^nd in Europe when it comes to amphetamines abuse by adults aged 15-34 years.

This was Insider Monkey’s list of 17 most drug addicted countries in the world in 2017.