Fight against drug abuse still a challenge

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has also released this year's World Drug Report.

An injecting drug user (IDU) is injected with heroin, locally known  as brown sugar, by his companion by a roadside in the eastern Indian city of Siliguri June 25, 2009. The United Nations observes  International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on  June 26.REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri (INDIA SOCIETY HEALTH)

The report shows that major drug markets have seen a general downward trend. But the production and use of new drugs -- including synthetic drugs -- have risen. The report warns that the challenge of drug-related crimes remains serious.

Especially in poor and less developed countries, where there's been rapid growth in the production and consumption of drugs.

There are around two-hundred million drug users spread across some 200 countries and regions. Illegal drug users are generally aged between 16 and 64 years. Every year, about two-hundred thousand people around the world die from illegal drug use.