MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina, Chile lead the region in illicit drugs consumption

Argentina, Uruguay and Chile have the highest index of illicit drugs consumption in South America according to the latest release from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Commission which depends from the Organization of American States, OAS and covers the 2006/07 period and a population universe aged between 15 and 64. The survey included 61.607 people representing 43 million inhabitants from six countries: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Peru and Ecuador figure at the bottom of the list of consumers, with Bolivia mid way. The most common illegal drug is marihuana, which is similar to the rest of the world. In the six countries considered consumption in the analyzed period averaged 4.8%, which is equivalent to 2.1 million people. Chile is the region's main consumer of marihuana followed by Argentina and Uruguay. Cocaine follows with 1.4% of the population of the six nations described as consumers in the age group 15/64. In the western hemisphere only United States has higher consumption percentages. But in South America a cheaper, far more toxic cheap cocaine version, "pasta base" is making inroads among the younger population. Consumption of other drugs such as extasis has been growing in Argentina, Chile and Peru. However alcohol also has a privileged role to play, anywhere from 30 to 60% of the interviewed population admitted having consumed alcohol in the last month of the report. Cocaine confiscation has soared in Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay, and to a lesser extent in Argentina and Paraguay. Most cocaine confiscated in Europe proceeds from Venezuela (36%), Colombia (17%) and Argentina (3%). The report points out that Spain and Portugal are the main European entries for illicit drugs originated in Latinamerica, while dispatches come mostly from Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina. Colombian organizations dominate a significant slice of the illegal trade in Spain, followed by Moroccans, Dominicans and Romanians.