From Poppy Powerhouse to Fentanyl Frenzy: The Shocking Changes in Global Opium Production

In 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its World Drug Report, revealing a major shift in global opium production. According to the report, Afghanistan, long known as a major poppy producer, had its potential opium production plummet by 95% between 2022 and 2023. This drop brought the country’s production down to just 333 tons.

The strict ban on poppy cultivation imposed by the new Afghan government has been credited with this significant reduction in illicit substance production. However, this move also affected medical prescription opioids, which are made from the same base ingredient as heroin.

Despite the decrease in Afghanistan’s potential opium production, Myanmar emerged as the top country with the highest potential opium production in 2023. Its capacity more than doubled from previous years, surpassing Mexico’s potential production of 166 tons in 2022. Laos and Colombia have also made contributions to global opium production in recent years.

Poppy cultivation has been a significant aspect of Afghan agricultural practices for several decades, with estimated opium production rarely falling below 2,500 tons between 1994 and 2022. While many Afghan farmers heavily depended on their poppy fields for income, this reduction in heroin production has led to an increase in prices and a surge in demand for new and potentially more dangerous substances like fentanyl.