The United Nations is reporting global progress in the fight against illegal drugs.
In its latest annual drug survey, the UN Office on Drug Control and Crime reported a 22% decrease in the worldwide cultivation of opium poppy, the raw ingredient in heroin.
The head of the UN drug control office, Antonio Costa, told a news briefing in Washington today that the international community has largely contained the supply, demand and trafficking of drugs.
But he noted that although there were global improvements, the drug problem in some countries actually worsened.
The report says the use of cocaine in Western Europe is reaching alarming levels.
It says opium production in Afghanistan dropped last year for the first time since 2001. But despite the decline, it says Afghanistan still accounted for nearly 90% of opium production worldwide last year.
The report found that the global use of marijuana continued to increase.
The report warns that opium production could increase in Afghanistan because of mass poverty and the lack of security.
Information for this report is provided by AP.