Pubdate: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON) Copyright: 2003 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.guelphmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) UN ISSUES WARNING ON INCREASE IN DRUG ABUSE ROME -- The supply and use of synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy and amphetamines is soaring worldwide in part because the public doesn't realize how dangerous they can be, a UN report said Tuesday. The report, presented at a news conference in Rome, estimated that global use of Ecstasy rose by 70 per cent between 1995-1997 and 2000-2001, while use of amphetamines rose by 40 per cent over the same period. More than 40 million people worldwide used amphetamine-type stimulants, known as ATS, in 2000-2001, the report said. The report said that seizures of these stimulants rose from around four tonnes in 1990-1991 to almost 40 tonnes in 2000-2001 and estimated the global value of the ATS industry at around US$65 billion each year. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager