The global illegal drug problem has not reduced during the past 10 years despite stronger policies to help users and tackle traffickers, according to a report prepared for the European Commission.

The assessment came as the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs met in Vienna last week, to review the progress made since the 1998 special session of the United Nations General Assembly on drugs.

The authors of the study maintain that despite the political impetus that the UN gave to an antidrug policy, the global drug problem has …