The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Tuesday said in a report that opium and cocaine production had reached record levels across the world.

Political instability, reduced economic opportunities and lack of government control all contributed to the global surge, which the UN said could have severe consequences.

Drugs in numbers:

Opium production rose by 65 percent in 2017 to 10,500 tons (9,525 metric tons), making it the highest estimate recorded by the UN "since it started monitoring global opium production."

Afghanistan, which accounts for more than three-quarters of global opium productions, witnessed a 37 percent rise in poppy cultivation.

Cocaine production rose by 25 percent to 1,410 tons (1,279 metric tons) in 2016, "the highest level ever reported."

Colombia, which accounts for two-thirds of global coca leaf production, saw output increase by more than 30 percent.

Read more: Medellin takes victims' side as 'narco tours' bring tourists

After years of decreasing, opium production is making a comeback in Afghanistan

Opioid crisis

The UN report also warned of the increased public health threat of opioids in the US and elsewhere.

The US witnessed a 21 percent increase in people dying from drug overdoses in 2016. The increase is "largely due to a rise in deaths associated with pharmaceutical opioids, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues."

But the crisis in the US has spread beyond the country's borders, with the UN saying: "We need to raise the alarm about addiction to tramadol, rates of which are soaring in parts of Africa."

Read more: Fighting the spread of fake drugs in Africa

US worried

On Monday, the White House issued a report with similar findings on Colombia's cocaine production surge. US President Donald Trump has threatened to decertify Colombia as a partner in Washington's "War on Drugs" if it doesn't curb the upward trend.

"President Trump's message to Colombia is clear: The record growth in cocaine production must be reversed," said Jim Carroll, deputy director for the US drug policy office.

Read more: Colombia's cocaine: Who will take charge now?

Mother Nature's drug lab Cannabis - smoke it or wear it The cannabis plant contains the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It makes people feel euphoric and relaxed and can also alleviate pain. The flowers of infertilized female plants contain particularly high amounts of THC, that's why they are taken for producing marihuana. Some cannabis species do not contain any THC at all and are grown for fiber production.

Mother Nature's drug lab Better than aspirin Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) produces - you guessed it - opium. To harvest it, you simply incise the capsules and let the white latex exude and dry. Opium contains high amounts of morphine, the strongest existing pain medication. A chemical variation of morphine provides the semi-synthetic drug heroin.

Mother Nature's drug lab Fancy a magic mushroom? Mushrooms are chemical artists - some of them even produce psychoactive substances. Among them: this grey-coloured Pluteus salicinus. It grows on wood and contains psilocybin, which causes visual and mental hallucinations similar to LSD. Side effects are nausea and panic attacks.

Mother Nature's drug lab Drug snack to go Leaves of the coca plant harbour chemical compounds similar to cocaine. They alleviate pain and act as stimulants. In many countries in Latin America, chewing on raw coca leaves is quite common. It helps tourists deal better with altitude sickness, too. By fermenting and drying the leaves and processing them chemically, cocaine is produced.

Mother Nature's drug lab Beautiful poisonous flowers Angel's trumpets are beautiful to look at but you should refrain from tasting them. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids - chemical compounds with strong effects on the human body. When you eat or smoke the plant, your heart rate will increase and you will start to hallucinate. As with all natural drugs, finding the right dosage is difficult. Deadly accidents occur quite often.

Mother Nature's drug lab Bummer with thornapple On the internet, poisonous Datura plants - also known as thornapples - are advertised as natural drugs as well. Really not a good idea: The plant induces strong hallucinations, sometimes with a complete loss of reality. People tend to hurt themselves severely under its influence.

Mother Nature's drug lab Hawaiian Babies Argyreia nervosa is native to Asia, even though the plant is called Hawaiian baby woodrose. The seeds of this climbing vine contain ergine, a compound similar to LSD. It causes colourful visions and euphoria but also nausea, prickling and psychoses. Overdosing can happen easily as one seed alone already has a strong effect.

Mother Nature's drug lab Ecstasy with cactus The peyote cactus in Mexico and Texas is full of mescaline, a hallucinogenic compound that is illegal under the international Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Mescaline alters thinking processes and one's sense of time and self-awareness. The cactus is cut into pieces and eaten or boiled into a tea. The cactus species is now listed on the Red List as vulnerable.

Mother Nature's drug lab Beware of nutmeg Nutmeg in high amounts can act as a drug, since it contains the hallucinogenic compound myristicin. But don't worry: you'll never reach the necessary dosage if you only use nutmeg as a spice. Getting high on nutmeg seems a bad idea anyway, as side effects include headaches, nausea and diarrhea.

Mother Nature's drug lab Psychedelic leaves? Yes, it's true: the evergreen kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa), native to Southeast Asia, incorporates the opioid-like compound mitragynine into its leaves. In traditional medicine, the leaves are chewed to relieve pain, increase appetite and treat diarrhea. But they can also be used to mix drug cocktails.

Mother Nature's drug lab One of nature's most dangerous killers The tobacco plant produces poisonous and addictive chemicals, such as nicotine and other alkaloids, and harbours them inside its leaves. With this poisonous cocktail, the plant tries to ward off animals that might want to eat it. When the leaves are dried and smoked, the chemicals enter the human body - together with many cancerous substances generated by burning tabacco. Author: Brigitte Osterath



ls/rt (AFP, dpa)

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