Myanmar is still the world’s leading source of opium and heroin following the Taliban’s imposition of a ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan, says the latest analysis by UNODC.
Opium cultivation in the country remains at high levels ‘after three years of growth’, says Myanmar opium survey 2022: cultivation, production and implications. Cultivation in Afghanistan, however, fell by 95 per cent in the year after the 2022 ban came into force, with Myanmar overtaking it as the world’s largest opium source last year.
‘The amount of opium produced in Myanmar remains close to the highest levels we have seen since we first measured it more than 20 years ago,’ said UNODC regional representative Masood Karimipour. ‘As conflict dynamics in the country remain intense and the global supply chains adjust to the ban in Afghanistan, we see significant risk of a further expansion over the coming years.’ Farmers growing opium in Myanmar ‘do not get rich, but are simply trying to make a living and meet their families’ basic needs amidst challenging circumstances,’ added UNODC country manager for Myanmar, Yatta Dakowah.
Meanwhile, more than half of individual placement and support (IPS) clients successfully obtained work during a follow-up period of up to 18 months, according to the first report on the expansion of IPS for adults in treatment in England. ‘IPS achieved positive results regardless of their primary drug use,’ says the OHID report – which matches NDTMS data with HMRC employment records – with four out of five sustaining their employment for 13 weeks or more.
‘There was a clear association between positive alcohol and drug treatment outcomes and successful employment,’ the document states. ‘The expansion of IPS across England will be completed during 2024-25 and these promising findings provide continued evidence of the effectiveness of the programme.’
UNODC report available here
IPS for alcohol and drug dependence: data linkage outcomes report available here