GENEVA, Switzerland – 18 August 2025: The World Health Organization (WHO) evaluates the dependence-producing properties and potential harm to health of psychoactive substances. Recommendations from the WHO regarding international control under the International Drug Control Conventions are made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and are subject to a vote by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

Three new psychoactive substances (NPS) will be considered for critical review at the 48th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence of the WHO (ECDD), including one synthetic cannabinoid and two nitazenes. Moreover, coca leaf will be considered for critical review.

The ECDD will be held from 20 to 22 October 2025. Analysis of scientific information from UNODC’s Early Warning Advisory on NPS (EWA) and  Tox-Portal is provided to WHO for the prioritization of NPS and their consideration for scheduling recommendations by the ECDD.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists

1. MDMB-FUBINACA

Nitazenes (Synthetic opioids)

2. N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene (Isotonitazepyne)

3. N-Desethyl etonitazene

Coca leaf 





For more information, please see:

World Health Organization, Provisional Agenda, 48th WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

World Health Organization 48th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “February 2025 – UNODC EWA: Increasing availability of nitazenes calls for global response”, news clip, 4 February 2025.