A new report claims the United Nations' approach to combating illegal drug use hasn't been successful.
The International Drug Policy Consortium looked at the U.N. Office on Drug and Crime's 10-year target goal to curb the illegal drug market by 2019. It says those efforts haven't reduced the global demand or supply of illegal drugs.
In fact, things have gotten worse.
According to the report, drug-related deaths worldwide have gone up 145 percent from 2011 to 2015. It also says drug consumption has increased around the same time frame, with 275 million people having reported using drugs at least once in 2016.
The group, which studies global drug policy, is urging U.N. leaders to try a different approach towards narcotics strategy when they meet in March.
So far, the UN hasn't publicly responded to the report.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.