The Arab Center for Learning and Future Studies, affiliated with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, has issued a new study entitled “The Global Economy in the Shadow of Drugs,” in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organization and the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University. The study addresses the impact of the illicit drug trade on the global economy and societies, and sheds light on the challenges facing Arab countries in confronting this phenomenon that has become increasingly invasive and encroaching on their societies.

The study reviews the latest statistics on global drug abuse, indicating that the number of drug users exceeded 296 million in 2021, an increase of 23% over the past decade, and that the numbers are still on the rise. The study shows the massive economic impact of this phenomenon, which generates more than $320 billion annually from the illicit drug trade, making it one of the largest criminal industries in the world.

The study focuses on the multiple dimensions of this issue in Arab countries, including social and economic impacts. The author points out that the spread of drugs in the Arab world is not limited to being an abstract health or legal problem, but is considered a crisis that affects social security and economic stability. The study also discusses the links between drug trafficking and geopolitical conflicts in the region, and how its spread can increase regional tensions and undermine development efforts.

The study provides a set of important recommendations for policy makers, most notably the need to develop effective treatment and preventive policies based on a deep understanding of the cultural, economic and social dimensions of Arab societies. It also called for intensifying efforts to combat corruption and money laundering that fuel the drug trade.

The study relied on multiple sources and reliable international reports, especially those issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to provide accurate analyses and draw conclusions. The study devoted chapters to studying cases from Arab countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, to review best practices and lessons learned from these countries.