Category: Global health

According to sources like Visual Capitalist and Frontiers in Psychiatry, caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance on a global scale. However, this single fact only scratches the surface of the complex issue of what is the most widely used drug. The answer depends heavily on the context, including legal status, location, and purpose of use.

First published in 1977, the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines serves as a guide for countries to identify their priority health needs. This comprehensive list offers guidance on **what are examples of essential drugs**, which are defined as medications that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of a population. The selection process considers factors such as public health relevance, evidence of efficacy and safety, and cost-effectiveness to ensure wide accessibility.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease often impacting impoverished communities, and a significant barrier to treatment is drug accessibility and cost. The cost of Glucantime, a key medication, varies drastically depending on region, distribution channel, and procurement method, highlighting vast inequities in access to life-saving treatment.

While quinine was once the frontline treatment for malaria for nearly 400 years, its use has evolved dramatically due to the development of newer, more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Today, despite its diminished role, the answer to the question, 'Is quinine still used today?', is yes, albeit in a much more limited and controlled capacity.

While cannabis has the highest number of users globally among illicit substances, defining **what is the most used narcotic in the world** requires looking at different categories, from prescribed pain medication to dangerous illicit substances, and understanding that the answer is not a single drug. Narcotics, specifically opioids, present a more severe health threat than other widely used illegal substances despite having fewer users worldwide.

Since its donation by Merck & Co. began in 1987, the Mectizan Donation Program has provided over 4.4 billion treatments to combat devastating parasitic diseases worldwide. But **what is the drug Mectizan used for**? Primarily, it is a key medication in the fight against river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis, saving millions from blindness and disfigurement.

With approximately 80% of the world's population consuming it daily, caffeine is arguably the most widely used psychoactive substance globally. However, asking "What is the most used drug in the entire world?" reveals different answers depending on whether one is considering regulated pharmaceuticals, illicit substances, or everyday stimulants. This article explores the various contenders and the context behind their widespread use.