This presentation was recorded on 4 June 2026 for the Australian Prompt Response Network (PRN) national meeting held on 16 June 2026. It provides a brief overview of the emergence of
orphines, including their chemical characteristics, pharmacological profile, patterns of use, and increasing presence in illicit drug markets. The presentation also highlights challenges related to detection, surveillance, and early warning systems, as well as associated public health risks and implications for forensic and policy responses.
Disclaimer:
This recording was conducted in English. YouTube offers auto‑dubbed audio tracks in multiple languages to improve accessibility; however, accuracy may vary, particularly for chemical and substance names. English and other languages automatically generated subtitles are also available to support understanding alongside this feature.
References:
- Janssen, P. A. J. & Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. (1967). Derivatives of benzimidazolinyl piperidine. In United States Patent Office.
- Verougstraete, N., Vandeputte, M. M., Lyphout, C., Cannaert, A., Hulpia, F., Van Calenbergh, S., Verstraete, A. G., & Stove, C. (2020). First report on Brorphine: the next opioid on the deadly new psychoactive substance horizon? Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 44 (9), 937–946.
- News: August 2020 – UNODC EWA: Brorphine, a newly emerging synthetic opioid detected in post-mortem cases.
- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: forty-fourth report. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022 (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 1038). Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- News: December 2021 – WHO: World Health Organization recommends 3 NPS for scheduling.
- News: March 2022 – UNODC: Three NPS “scheduled” at the 65th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
- Single Convention On Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol. (1961). In United Nations.
- News: May 2025 – Emerging analogues of brorphine.
- News: July 2025 – China: Announcement of class scheduling of “nitazene” analogues.
- News: February 2026 – Increasing nitazene and orphine analogues (synthetic opioids) and the implications for the use of test strips.
- UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS, Data Visualisations – Public.
- UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS, Data Visualisations – Pro.
- News: May 2026 – The emerging threat of cychlorphine: A new synthetic opioid raising concerns globally for public health.
- ONDCP. (2026). Drug Threat Notice: Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid involved in at least 55 Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid involved in at least 55 deaths, has potential to spread across the Nation.
- EUDA (2026). Revision of most recent data from the European Syringe Collection and Analysis Project Enterprise (ESCAPE): data explorer, analysis and key findings.
- Man N, Sutherland R, Bruno R, Barratt MJ, Peacock A. (2026). Availability of orphine analogues for purchase in Australia and internationally via cryptomarkets, June 2021 – January 2026. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney.
- UNODC Early Warning Advisory Tox-Portal.
- ACMD. (2026). Seventh addendum to the ACMD report on the use and harms of 2-benzyl-benzimidazole ('nitazene’) and piperidine benzimida-zolone ('brorphine-like’) opioids.
- Health Canada. (2026). News Release: Government of Canada takes quick action to disrupt illegal drug production.