"While global markets for cocaine, heroin and cannabis have declined or remained stable, the production and abuse of prescription opioid drugs and new synthetic drugs have risen, according to the World Drug Report 2011. Illicit cultivation of opium poppy and coca bush have remained limited to a few countries. Although there has been a sharp decline in opium production and a modest reduction in coca bush cultivation, the overall level of manufacture of heroin and cocaine has remained significant.

The flagship report was launched in New York by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov, the President of the sixty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Joseph Deiss, and the Director of the Federal Drug Control Service of the Russian Federation, Viktor Ivanov.

Lower level of opium production in Afghanistan; slight increase in Myanmar. Global coca bush cultivation decreases owing to decline in Colombia; United States cocaine market shrinks. Cannabis - the world's drug of choice. Synthetic drugs - South-East Asia and Africa under the radar."