Outreach

As you might imagine, hunger is a problem that most often affects children from low-income families. A common way we measure poverty is the federal poverty level, a number set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The federal poverty level is the minimum amount of money a family needs each year to afford the necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

How many Americans live in poverty? Over 36 Million or 10.7% of all Americans, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 12 million of those were children. This number, though shockingly high for a country of such enormous wealth, had fallen in recent years, but the coronavirus pandemic put a huge burden on already-struggling families, and the impact of that is not yet fully know.

In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, unemployment and food insecurity soared.  In 2020, over 60 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table.

Forced Labor: The term forced labor is defined in two separate sections of the U.S. Code. In the criminal statutes of Title 18, it encompasses the range of activities – recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining – involved when a person uses force or physical threats; psychological coercion; abuse of the legal process; a scheme, plan, or pattern intended to hold a person in fear of serious harm; or other coercive means to compel someone to work. Once a person’s labor is obtained by such means, the person’s previous consent or effort to obtain employment with the trafficker does not preclude the person from being considered a victim, or the government from prosecuting the offender. In the customs-related statute of Title 19, it is also defined in connection with the prohibition on the importation of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labor, including forced child labor; convict labor; and indentured labor under penal sanctions.

Debt Bondage: U.S. law prohibits the use of a debt as a form of coercion to compel a person’s labor. Some workers fall victim to traffickers or recruiters who unlawfully exploit an initial debt assumed as a condition of employment, while in certain countries some workers “inherit” the debt. Although contract violations and hazardous working conditions for migrant laborers do not in themselves constitute human trafficking, the imposition of costs and debts on these laborers can contribute to a situation of debt bondage. In other cases, employment-based temporary work programs in which the workers’ legal status in the country is tied to a particular employer present challenges to workers who would like to flee from such an employer.

Domestic Servitude: Working in a private residence can create unique vulnerabilities, particularly because what happens in a private residence often is hidden from the world, and it is easy to isolate a worker in a private residence. Domestic workplaces are often informal, connected to off-duty living quarters, and not shared with other workers. Such an environment is conducive to exploitation because authorities cannot inspect private homes as easily as formal workplaces. The use of informal, or even verbal, employment contracts compounds vulnerability. Foreign domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to abuse due to factors such as language and cultural barriers and lack of community ties.

Forced Child Labor: Although children may legally engage in certain forms of work, forms of slavery or slave-like practices – including the sale of children for exploitation, forced or compulsory child labor, and debt bondage and serfdom of children – continue to exist, despite legal prohibitions and widespread condemnation.

Sex Trafficking: When a person is required to engage in a commercial sex act as the result of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion or any combination of such means, that person is a victim of human trafficking. Under such circumstances, perpetrators involved in recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, advertising, maintaining, patronizing, or soliciting a person for that purpose are guilty of the federal crime of sex trafficking. This is true even if the victim previously consented to engage in commercial sex.

Child Sex Trafficking: Any child (under the age of 18) who has been recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized, or solicited to engage in a commercial sex act is a victim of human trafficking regardless of whether or not force, fraud, or coercion is used. The use of children in the commercial sex trade is prohibited both under U.S. law and by legislation in most countries around the world.

Human trafficking victims can be of any age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, immigration status, cultural background, religion, socio-economic class, and education attainment level. In the United States, individuals vulnerable to human trafficking include children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, including foster care; runaway and homeless youth; unaccompanied foreign national children without lawful immigration status; individuals seeking asylum; American Indians and Alaska Natives, particularly women and girls; individuals with substance use issues; racial or ethnic minorities; migrant laborers, including undocumented workers and participants in visa programs for temporary workers; foreign national domestic workers in diplomatic households; persons with limited English proficiency; persons with disabilities; LGBT+ individuals; and victims of intimate partner violence or other forms of domestic violence. At the heart of this phenomenon is the traffickers’ aim to profit from the exploitation of their victims and the myriad coercive and deceptive practices they use to do so. Traffickers can be strangers, acquaintances, or even family members, and they prey on the vulnerable and on those seeking opportunities to build for themselves a brighter future. Human traffickers respect no boundaries. The crime can include, but does not require, movement. Human trafficking is distinct from the separate crime of migrant smuggling. Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to work or engage in a commercial sex act, and does not require crossing a border. By contrast, migrant smugglers engage in the crime of bringing people across international borders through deliberate evasion of immigration laws. While these are distinct crimes, individuals who are smuggled may become vulnerable to and victims of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking in the United States

1. In 2019, 62% of victims in the US were identified as sex trafficking victims.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report, State.gov)

Now, let’s clearly define what is sex trafficking?

Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. It includes sexual slavery, which is also considered modern slavery today.

According to the 2019 human trafficking statistics in the United States, there were 8,375 open victim cases reported. 5,090 of these were new.

62% of the victims were US citizens or permanent residents, and 35% were foreign nationals. The citizenship of 2% was unknown.

62% of the victims were identified as sex trafficking victims, 22% were victims of labor trafficking, and 7% were victims of both. The case for 9% was unknown.

2. In 2019, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grantees reported 68% of clients served were victims of labor trafficking.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

Additionally, HHS grantees reported 20% of clients were victims of sex trafficking in the United States, and 12% were victims of both sex and labor trafficking.

The HHS earmarked $10.9 million for the provision of case management services to foreign national victims via NGOs in 2019.

3. In 2019, the HHS provided $2.3 million to address human trafficking in the child welfare system.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

As per the 2020 human trafficking statistics, $7 million were earmarked for administrative activities to serve any child or youth in the placement, care, or supervision of a foster care agency who was at risk of becoming a sex trafficking victim, identified as a sex trafficking victim, or was missing from foster care.

4. There is almost a 20% increase in human trafficking survivors and victims who contacted the trafficking hotline directly.

(Source: Polaris Project)

When those affected by trafficking reach out to the human trafficking hotline, they share valuable information. This enables better support in providing a safety plan, a shelter bed, finding an attorney, a trauma counselor, or even engaging law enforcement.

According to sex trafficking statistics from 2019, texting has become a more common method of reaching out to the trafficking hotline.

5. In 2019, the human trafficking hotline identified 22,326 survivors and victims.

(Source: Polaris Project)

The vast majority of trafficking victims and survivors the human trafficking hotline identified were victims and survivors of sex trafficking (14,597). They were followed by victims of labor trafficking (4,934) and sex and labor (1,048), with 1,747 unspecified.

6. Escort services are the top sex trafficking type, with 1,278 identified cases.

(Source: Polaris Project)

Escort services are followed by forced commercial sex and labor service as part of the illicit massage, health, and beauty sector (1,274), and pornography (733). There are different types of human trafficking cases of both sex and labor trafficking. The top three identified labor trafficking types are domestic work, with 218 victims, agriculture, and animal husbandry (108), and traveling sales crews (107).

7. Job offer/advertisement is the most common recruitment tactic for labor trafficking, with 2,557 identified cases.

(Source: Polaris Project)

Human traffickers use different tactics to recruit victims. The most common sex trafficking recruitment tactics are intimate partner/marriage proposition, job offer or advertisement, and false promises. Similarly, the most common recruitment tactics for labor trafficking are job offers, fraud, and smuggling related tactics.

8. One in eight endangered runaway youths is likely to be the victim of human trafficking.

(Source: NHTH, MissingKids)

Human sex trafficking statistics show some children are more vulnerable when it comes to human trafficking. This includes missing or runaway children but also those who have experienced sexual abuse, assault, or rape, those who have substance abuse issues, and those who identify as LGBTQ and have been either stigmatized by their family or kicked out of the home.

Human Trafficking Statistics Worldwide

9. 25 million people are denied their fundamental right to freedom.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

The history of human trafficking is a long and tragic one. The Trafficking in Persons Report provides governments with invaluable data to prosecute traffickers and provide victim-centered and trauma-informed protection for the victims. The ultimate goal, of course, is to eradicate this dreadful crime altogether.

The report, which marked its 20th-anniversary edition in 2020, includes the most important forced labor and sex trafficking 2020 stats.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the current state of how human trafficking in different parts of the world.

10. Traffickers exploit 70% of the estimated five million Ethiopians transported to Saudi Arabia in forced labor, prostitution statistics reveal.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

Labor and sex trafficking facts are clear:

Traffickers exploit over two-thirds of Ethiopians transported to Saudi Arabia for forced labor. Young women mostly travel through Eritrea or Djibouti to look for domestic work in Saudi Arabia.

11. International organizations estimated 93% of child labor in Bangladesh, including forced child labor, is in the informal sector.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report, DOL)

Inspectors filed 42 cases on the worst forms of child trafficking against employers, especially child labor. Unfortunately, slavery facts show the Bangladeshi Government made only moderate progress in the efforts to combat and eradicate the worst forms of child labor in 2019.

Here are the figures:

In 2019, more than 1,000 working children from 558 factories were removed, and 3,501 children were rehabilitated. Since 2017, 90,000 children have been removed from hazardous labor conditions, and over 35,000 children from exploitative work.

12. The government of Argentina reported that it had implemented 59% of the national anti-trafficking action plan, human trafficking statistics for 2020 confirm.

(Source: Human Rights Watch, 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

However, a specific budget for the plan is yet to be allocated. That’s why observers have raised concerns about the government’s ability to fund the anti-trafficking programs.

In contrast to the previous reporting periods, the Argentine Government did not report the latest human trafficking info or any details of its efforts to combat labor trafficking in 2019.

13. In France, 74% of exploited victims were victims of sex trafficking in 2018.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report)

Unfortunately, the hit 2008 action-thriller movie Taken is not pure fantasy – sex trafficking is a problem in France.

Forced labor (17%), forced criminality (5%), and forced begging (3%) followed. In terms of origin, 48% of respondents came from Nigeria. North Africa and Eastern Europe were also not uncommon regions of origin.

And that’s not all:

Of the 50,000 people involved in commercial sex in France, about 90% are foreign and likely trafficking victims. In fact, France assisted fewer victims in 2019 than it did in 2018. The police identified 892 victims of exploitation. The corresponding figure for 2018 stood at 950.
Out of all the exploited victims in 2019, 175 were victims of trafficking, and 717 were victims of aggravated sexual exploitation. Some cases included victims of adult and child sexual slavery.

Victim Demographics

14. 30% of trafficking victims are children.

(Source: 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report, UN)

The crime of human trafficking is happening all around us. And unfortunately, nearly one-third of the victims are children. They are subject to different forms of abuse, including forced labor and sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking statistics reveal.

15. Women make up 49% of all trafficking victims.

(Source: UN)

Additionally, girls make up 23% of the total number. Sexual exploitation has a global share of 59%, followed by forced labor (34%).

In the past 15 years, women and girls together represent more than 70% of the identified trafficking victims.

16. Men make up 21% of the identified victims of trafficking in persons, human trafficking statistics confirm

(Source: UNODC)

Of that 30% of children victims of human trafficking, more girls were identified. Boys represented 7% of the total number of trafficking in person victims globally.

Half of the boys (50%) were victims of forced labor.

On the other hand, the vast majority of girls were sex trafficking victims (72%). Lastly, the vast majority of men (82%) were forced labor trafficking victims.

Human Trafficking Stats about Perpetrators

17. More than 35% of those prosecuted for trafficking in persons were women.

(Source: UNODC)

Studies show that women are more engaged in the human trafficking recruitment phase.

Statistics on human trafficking further reveal 31% of the persons investigated or arrested for this crime in 2016 or more recently were women, and 69% were men.

About 65% of the prosecuted perpetrators were men. Lastly, 38% of the perpetrators who were convicted were women and 62% were men.

18. 70% of the convicted perpetrators were local nationals.

(Source: UNODC)

On the other hand, about one-third of those convicted were foreign traffickers (30%). Additionally, 21% of the foreign perpetrators were from the same region, whereas 9% were from outside the region.

19. In the US, perpetrators face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for the sex trafficking of adults, human trafficking statistics confirm.

(Source: UCHasting)

The prison sentence for labor trafficking crimes is up to 12 years per offense. On the other hand, perpetrators may get up to 20 years per offense for the sex trafficking of adults. Child sex trafficking that includes force or fraud is punishable by up to a life term in prison.

In addition to time behind bars, perpetrators face considerable fines:

20. Human traffickers face fines of up to $1,500,000.

(Source: UCHasting)

As per the same approved propositions, the fines for sex trafficking of a minor in the US are up to $100,000.

Human trafficking facts reveal 70% of the funds obtained from fines are allocated to public agencies and organizations that provide support to human trafficking victims.

The remaining 30% of the collected fines by the perpetrators are allocated to law prosecution and enforcement agencies and utilized for prevention, rescue operations, and witness protection.

Final Words

Human trafficking is a despicable global crime that needs to be eradicated.

The good news is:

In the latest reporting period for human trafficking statistics in 2021 by state in the US and globally, there have been some improvements in combating these crimes and in providing greater support to the victims.

However:

Child trafficking statistics show the crime is still prevalent among the most vulnerable, and the numbers of sex trafficking victims remain quite shocking. Clearly, governments and NGOs need to double their efforts in the struggle against human trafficking.

FAQ

Q: What is the #1 state for human trafficking?

According to human trafficking statistics from 2019, the state that constantly has the highest rates in human trafficking is California, with 1,507 reported cases in 2019. 1,118 of these cases involved sex trafficking, 158 labor trafficking, and 69 both. The remaining cases weren’t specified. Out of the reported victims, 1,290 were female, 149 were male, and 10 were gender minorities.
Even though there is a misconception that human trafficking doesn’t happen in the United States, there are in fact 199,000 incidents every year.

Q: What are the top 3 states for human trafficking?

The human trafficking articles suggest California. The Golden State is followed by Texas, Florida, and New York. In 2019, there were 1,080 cases in the Lone Star State, 896 cases in the Sunshine State, and 454 cases in the Empire State.

Q: What are the top 10 cities for human trafficking?

According to the latest human trafficking statistics, the top cities in the US are:

• Huston
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Washington, DC
• Chicago
• Las Vegas
• Atlanta
• Dallas
• Miami
• Columbus

Q: Which country has the highest rate of human trafficking?

According to human trafficking statistics from 2018, the top three nations of origin of trafficking victims were the United States, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Homelessness Elsewhere in the World

#7- There is about 4.5 million homeless people in the Philippines

The Philippines has a fast-growing economy, yet it is experiencing homelessness. Out of a population of 106 million people, 4.5 million of them are homeless. Further, more stand a risk of becoming homeless due to lack of affordable housing, lost jobs, low income, or lack of stability. Domestic violence and loss of home due to a natural disaster also play a role in families with children.

#8- About 65% of homeless people in the Philippines live in Manila

Low income makes things difficult for many families in the Philippines, especially those living in Manila, to pay rent. No housing assistance, lack of health care, lack of resources, and domestic violence cause homelessness. In the Philippines, women and children are in danger of domestic abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. Those women who escape their abusive partners could lose their source of income and have difficulty finding a place to stay. Domestic violence often also results in post-traumatic stress disorder, making it even harder to deal with the accommodation search.

India

#9- The 2011 census in India counted nearly 450,000 homeless families

Instead of a decrease in homelessness, there is an increase in the homeless population in India. Many people experiencing homelessness live by roadsides, on pavements, under flyovers and staircases, on railway platforms, and in the open at or near places of worship.

#10- The 2011 census in India counted over 17 million homeless individuals

According to this report published by the United Nations, there are 17 million adults and children on Indian streets today, and their numbers are growing fast. Forty percent of the world's street children are homeless, the other sixty percent work on the street to support their families.

#11- There are 18 million street children in India

This is the largest number of street children found anywhere in the world. Family homelessness is widespread in India, especially in urban regions. You will find children from 0 to 14 years old roaming the streets of India, and most of these street children fend for themselves and have no parents.

#12- In India's capital city, there are over 3 million homeless men and women

At least one percent of the population of urban India is homeless, and lack of affordable housing, low minimum wage, no job, and other economic issues contribute to the increase in homelessness.

Homelessness as a result of disaster

#13- In Malawi, around 100,000 people were made homeless by floods in 2015

One hundred seventy people died in the flash flood that increased the homeless population in Malawi. Hundreds of families took shelter in classrooms after raging waters destroyed their homes.

Africa

#14- About 250,000 people are homeless in Kenya

Recent facts about homelessness in Kenya show that over 2 million people are now homeless, and about 50% of those people are children. Kenyans who lack the income to pay for housing have contributed to the rise of the homeless population.

#15- 24.4 million people are homeless in Nigeria

Insurgency and rapid urban urbanization poverty contribute to the increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Nigeria. Data shows that this accounts for roughly 13% of the nation's population. Every day, Nigerians face the risk of becoming homeless.

UK

#16- In 2016, core homelessness in Great Britain stood at 158,400 households

At this point, the UK's exit from the European Union may affect homelessness positively or negatively. The risk of homelessness may increase in families with children, and it could also decrease.

#17- Research estimates that the actual number of core homeless people is 236,000

#17- Research estimates that the actual number of core homeless people is 236,000

#18- Core homelessness in Great Britain increased by 33% overall between 2011 and 2016

Individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 33 percent overall between 2011 and 2016. England had the largest increase with unsuitable temporary accommodation which more than doubled between this period. There was also an increase in England and Wales, Scottish core homelessness fell slightly.

Homelessness and crime

Facts from Denmark

#19- A study in Denmark showed that 15.6% of individuals who had experienced homelessness had at least one crime victimization incident

All individuals experiencing homelessness in Denmark have experienced at least had one incident of crime. Individuals with both a psychiatric diagnosis and experience of homelessness had the highest risk of violent victimization.

#20- 5 years after an individual's first homeless shelter contact in Denmark, there was a 23% probability of crime victimization

Homeless populations suffer a substantially increased risk of crime victimization, highlighting the need for strategic and targeted approaches to prevent homelessness and help people out of homelessness.

#21- The prevalence of assault victimization in Denmark within the past year has been estimated to range from 27% to 52% in homeless populations

This is because most homeless individuals have complex health problems, including psychiatric disorders and mental illness, and both disorders can lead to an increased risk of victimization. A homeless youth is likely to partake in sexual crime victimization.

Homelessness Fact from LA

#22- According to an ABC7 analysis of LAPD data, crimes against homeless people in Los Angeles increased by 24% in 2019

There was a 19% increase in serious violent crime against homeless people and a 5% increase in homeless people killed.

#23- Of all homicides in Los Angeles in 2019, 16% of the victims were homeless Most suspects involved in homicides against the homeless were also homeless, and these cases were hardly reported to the police. This makes it difficult to apprehend the suspects if the victims do not report these cases.

#24- In 2019, there was a 19% increase in serious violent crime against homeless people in Los Angeles

Lack of affordable housing increases the risk of homelessness. Further, a high crime rate results in homeless individuals both on the receiving end and the perpetrators of such crimes. Los Angeles's homeless population grew by 19 percent, and these numbers are alarming. This city's homeless population has no shelter, is hungry, and can create public health issues.

#25- There was a 5% increase in homeless people killed in Los Angeles in 2019

On average, nearly three homeless people are dying daily in L.A, and this is double the amount of homeless people who died in 2013. Suicide accounts for a small percentage, while homeless individuals killing fellow homeless people accounts for a higher percentage.

Homelessness future projections

Homelessness future projections

The number of people sleeping rough will be more than quadruple by 2030 because it is hard to overstate the scale of Britain's current housing problem. More people cannot fend for themselves and their families due to a lack of suitable jobs or housing.

#27- By 2041, 184,400 households in Greater London are expected to suffer from homelessness

This is a considerable increase in number when compared with the overall number in Great Britain. This is because of the scarcity of affordable housing in the capital. If effective, the plan to end homelessness will see about a reduction in the number of homeless families and individuals.

Featured in Poverty

Homeless Quotes & Homelessness Sayings

There are 150 million people globally on any given night who will have to sleep in the street, in their cars, or abandoned spaces. Homelessness is an issue that spans across all parts of the globe. There are overwhelming

Drug and Alcohol Addiction around the World

The focus has always been on drug and alcohol addiction trends in America. Currently, we are going through a massive opiate epidemic that is taking lives and bringing entire communities down. But what about the rest of the world?

It’s a great big world out there, but as Americans, we tend to look at what is going on close to home. It’s only natural, but the fact of the matter is that there is a lot of addiction going on in other places around the world.

Because of different cultural norms, and access to different substances, the commonly abused drugs in different countries varies significantly. It is interesting to see how people are doing in other parts of the world, and also what they are doing about it.

Drugs Around the World

We’re used to what we know when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction in America, but what about the rest of the world? Here’s a look at what is being abused in the top drug and alcohol addicted countries of the world.

U.S.A. – Prescription Pills

Starting with the US, it is no secret that drug and alcohol addiction are a big problem in today’s society. It is estimated that almost 18 million people have a problem with drugs and alcohol. This leads to more crime, more accidents, more people in jail, and more lives ruined.

Of all the drugs in America, the number one abused drug is prescription medication. Wondering how that could be? The answer is simple: doctors. About twenty years ago, pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing supposedly non-addictive pain killers and were encouraged to put an end to the pain problem in America.

What people didn’t know back then is that those medications were in fact extremely addictive. Over the course of time that has lapsed since then, millions of people are using and abusing these medications. They are known as opioids, which is in the same family as heroin. Often, prescription opioid abuse leads to heroin.

Canada – Marijuana

Starting with our northern neighbors, Canada is leading the pack when it comes to marijuana use. About half of all residents say they have used marijuana in their lifetime, and most people who use marijuana are students. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, more than half of students in grade 12 have used marijuana in the past year.

Marijuana use may not be considered as dangerous as other drugs like heroin and cocaine, but it has addictive qualities and can significantly affect a person’s world. Many people try to quit on their own and can’t and need to seek treatment. They may also find that when they quit marijuana, they feel intense anxiety and depression.

Just because it is natural does not make it safe. Since it is normally smoked, it can make a person more likely to develop lung cancer and other breathing-related issues.

Mexico – Meth

Moving on to our neighbors to the south, Mexico’s biggest drug-use related problem is meth. Mexico’s meth addiction is considered one of the worst drug problems in the world. It is well-known that Mexico is a huge player in the drug world. Their cartels have taken over towns in Mexico and run them to the ground. They have turned old vacation destinations into battlegrounds. Mexican meth “super labs” aren’t helping.

Mexico is producing more and more meth each year, and with that addiction is rising as well. Currently, it is estimated that about 400,000 of their population has used meth at least once. Meth is a highly addictive drug related to cocaine that is extremely addicting and can cause major physical and emotional damage.

UK – Alcohol

The UK is well-known for its love for drinking, but that still doesn’t make it safe. It is estimated that more than one and a half million people are dependent on alcohol in England. Even more surprising is that almost as many women – more than half- as men are abusing alcohol.

Alcohol is widely accepted throughout the world, with England being no exception. “Safe” drinking is considered only one drink for women and two for men, with anything above that meaning the person is drinking in excess. Alcohol abuse can cause many health problems. It also can cause legal problems, it can cause a person to lose their jobs and family, and even their self-respect.

Brazil – Oxi

Despite what you may think, this is not the same “oxi” as we think of when we hear it, oxycodone. This version is a mix of terrible things like cocaine and gasoline and is extremely tough on the body and causes hallucination. It is known as “Oxi” but its real name is oxidado, and it is taking over the streets of Brazil.

According to a news report, oxi is a drug that terrifies Brazilian authorities because it is new to the market, cheap, and much more lethal than other street drugs. Oxi is sometimes referred to as the “drug of death” and is extremely lethal and bad for the body. Laboratories of the drug exist in Brazil, and local police enforcement is trying their best to crack down.

Drugs Exist in Every Population

Unfortunately, almost anywhere you go, you’ll find people who are into and suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. It’s a worldwide problem that has been around for a thousand years, and it will take a lot of work to eliminate it completely.

Some Interesting Facts about Drugs & Alcohol

Drugs were first used for medical purposes in history. Over the years, the reasons for taking drugs have changed significantly. Though using drugs is illegal in many countries, there are exceptional situations varying from country to country. Here are some different facts about drugs & alcohol!

• In Colombia, illegal drug trading is worth around 10 Billion Dollars each year.
• 30% of world famous rock stars are dead because of extreme drug or alcohol use.
• In Holland, there are official institutions that you can bring your own drugs to get their quality checked.
• In Singapore, possessing or using narcotic drugs is punished by the death penalty.
• A fish species called 'Salema Porgy' is known to cause hallucinative effects when it is consumed. The Salema Porgy is usually seen in Mediterranean Sea and around the depths of South America.
• People who shoot professionally often use alcohol to increase their performance.
• There is a special nail polish that was developed to detect drugs such as roofies in your drink!
• Every year over 100,000 babies are born addicted to cocaine in the USA.
• In North Korea, marijuana is legal and it is not considered to be a narcotic drug.
• Many antidepressants cause sexual side effects and limit the feelings of love and romance.
• Only 1% of heroin addicts agree to go to rehab.
• People ages 15 years old or older can drink 6.3 liters of alcohol each year.
• An estimated 3.3 million deaths occur each year due to alcohol abuse.
• 31 million people around the world have drug use disorders.
• Around the world drug use is directly and indirectly responsible for 11.8 million deaths each year.
• 38.3% of the population drinks alcohol which means that an average of 17 liters of alcohol is consumed yearly.
• 11 million people choose to inject drugs.
• 1.3 million people who have abused drugs through injection are living with HIV while 5.5 million have Hepatitis C.
• 1 million people suffer from both HIV and Hepatitis C due to substance abuse.

Drug use is directly and indirectly responsible for 11.8 million deaths each year. Smoking, alcohol and drug use is an important risk factor for early death: 11.4 million die prematurely as a result each year.