WILLEMSTAD — Drug use disorders are becoming an increasingly serious public health problem across North, Central and South America, with a growing impact on the Caribbean region as well. This is highlighted in a recent study by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which identifies drug use as one of the ten leading risk factors for death and disease in the Americas.
According to the study, an estimated 17.7 million people in the region were living with a drug use disorder in 2021. In that same year, nearly 78,000 deaths were directly attributed to these disorders. This mortality rate is approximately four times higher than the global average, based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study.
Patterns of drug use vary by region. In the Caribbean, Central America and South America, cannabis and cocaine are the most prevalent substances contributing to drug-related harm. In contrast, opioids and synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, account for the majority of drug-related deaths in North America.
The study shows that drug use disorders disproportionately affect young adults and result in a significant health burden, especially among men. Between 2000 and 2021, the overall health burden linked to drug use in the Americas nearly tripled. During the COVID-19 pandemic, overdoses and other drug-related health problems increased even further, exacerbating an already serious situation.
PAHO stresses that drug use disorders are preventable and treatable, but points to major shortcomings in prevention, treatment and harm-reduction services across the region. The organization is urging countries in the Americas, including those in the Caribbean, to strengthen addiction care systems and improve access to effective prevention and treatment programs.
According to PAHO, addressing drug use disorders more effectively is essential not only to reduce mortality and disease, but also to limit the broader social and economic consequences associated with addiction.