Trends in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan have been on an upward trajectory since the early 1990s. In 2007, opium poppy cultivation reached an all-time high of 193,000 ha with the majority of cultivation (69 percent) occurring in the five southern provinces. Along with the rise in cultivation, there has been a rise in opium production. In 2007, there was a 34 percent increase in opium production, making Afghanistan virtually the sole supplier of opium and accounting for 93 percent of global production. In 2007, total effective eradication amounted to 19,047 hectares which is equal to 10 percent of the total opium poppy cultivation with corruption and violence continuing to hinder the eradication process. The number of illicit drug users in Afghanistan is estimated at nearly 1 million, with few areas in the country where drug use does not occur. This estimated number represents 4 percent of the total population or 8 percent of the adult population. Drug related crime figures rose in 2006 particularly with regard to arrests of mid-level traffickers; 2007 figures again showed a slight decrease. This illicit drug trend report was prepared by the Paris Pact National Strategic Analyst with assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Office for Afghanistan. Figures, references