Vienna, AUSTRIA – March 2017: The Global SMART Update (Volume 17, March 2017) “Fentanyl and its analogues - 50 years on” sheds light on the rapidly unfolding public health threat posed by extremely potent synthetic opioids, fentanyl and its analogues. Key research insights delineate a complex market, whereby the sale of illicit opioids is entwined with the legitimate and underground supply of opioid pharmaceuticals.
The upcoming 60th Commission on Narcotic Drugs will consider the scheduling of two precursors of fentanyl and its analogues under the 1988 Convention, on 16th March 2017. In addition, an analogue of fentanyl, butyrfentanyl will be considered for control under the 1961 Convention at the same meeting. The Global SMART Update provides background information for these discussions, highlighting global developments in clandestine opioid manufacturing and trafficking and associated international concerns.
For more information, please see:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/scientists/global-smart-update-2017-vol-17.html
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2017/March/report_-increasing-flows-of-fentanyl-fuel-a-steep-rise-in-overdose-deaths.html?ref=fs1