VIENNA, Austria – March 2019: At its 62nd regular session from 18 to 22 March 2019, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided to place nine substances and three precursors under international control. Following recommendations by the WHO, nine substances were added to the relevant schedules of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Moreover, following recommendations by the INCB, three precursors, which can be used in the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants, were added to Table I of the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

Added to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol:

1. Cyclopropylfentanyl - Schedule I
2. Methoxyacetylfentanyl - Schedule I
3. Orthofluorofentanyl (2-Fluorofentanyl) - Schedule I
4. Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl (4-Fluorobutyrfentanyl) - Schedule I

Added to the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971:

5. ADB-FUBINACA - Schedule II
6. FUB‐AMB (MMB‐FUBINACA, AMB‐FUBINACA) - Schedule II
7. ADB‐CHMINACA  - Schedule II
8. CUMYL‐4CN-BINACA - Schedule II
9. N‐Ethylnorpentylone (ephylone) - Schedule II

Added to the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988:

1. 3,4-MDP-2P-methylglycidate (PMK glycidate) (all stereoisomers) - Table I 
2. 3,4-MDP-2P-methylglycidic acid (PMK glycidic acid (all stereoisomers) - Table I 
3. Alpha-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA) (including its optical isomers) - Table I

For further information please see:

EWA news clip on substances recommended for scheduling by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: WHO recommends 9 NPS for scheduling.

For detailed information on the forty-first meeting, substance evaluation and previous committees of the WHO ECDD, please click here.

VIENNA, Austria – March 2019: On 18 March, the UNODC, together with WHO and INCB, launched the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs during the 62nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs, part of the UNODC Integrated Strategy on the Global Opioid Crisis, is one of the measures taken by the UN to respond to the opioid crisis. The Toolkit offers a wide range of electronic resources provided by offices and organizations within the UN system. It sets focus on practical tools to respond to challenges related to the non-medical use of drugs under international control as well as to their illicit manufacture and trafficking. The Toolkit is meant for experts and practitioners working in fields such as health, prevention, treatment, drug policy, drug control, including law enforcement, customs and border control, and forensic laboratories.

The UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs can be accessed here (works best with Chrome).

For more information, please see:

UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs (works best with Chrome)

UNODC Webstory: UNODC launches toolkit on synthetic drugs to support Member States in addressing challenges

UNODC Global Opioid Strategy

VIENNA, Austria – March 2019: The UNODC Global SMART Programme has released the third issue of the Global SMART Newsletter for Latin America and the Caribbean, which highlights synthetic drug trends and UNODC activities in the region. In this edition, light is shed on the emergence of NPS in Latin America and the Caribbean with ketamine being the substance reported by most countries in 2017. The most used amphetamine-type stimulant in the region was “ecstasy”. Of particular concern are “ecstasy” tablets with high content of MDMA and “ecstasy” in crystalline form, identified in some Latin American countries. The newsletter also highlights the two successful Global SMART Forensic training workshops held in Panama City, Panama,in March and November 2018.

This Newsletter is available in English and in Spanish.

For subscription please register here.

Bangkok, Thailand – March 2019: On 11 March 2019, the UNODC SMART Programme launched the report “Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia – Trends and Patterns of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and New Psychoactive Substances” in Bangkok, Thailand. This report provides an overview of the major trends and features of the synthetic drugs market in East- and South-East Asia.

According to the findings of this report, the strong shift in the drug market in East and South-East Asia, from opiates to methamphetamine since the late 2000s prevails. Increased quantities of methamphetamine seized and decreases in retail prices of the drug in East and South-East Asia suggest that the supply of methamphetamine has expanded. Moreover, transnational organized crime groups operating in the region have been increasingly involved in the manufacture and trafficking of methamphetamine and other drugs in the Golden Triangle. “Ecstasy” containing substances other than MDMA, including NPS, potent synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl) and ketamine continue to be found in the region.

For more information, please see:

Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia – Trends and Patterns of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and New Psychoactive Substances

UNODC Webstory: Record levels of synthetic drugs seized as prices drop across South-East Asia

VIENNA, Austria – March 2019: The current Global SMART Update Vol. 21 “Understanding the global opioid crisis” provides insight into the non-medical use of opioids, which presents a significant concern for public health, safety and law enforcement authorities worldwide. In the past years, the non-medical use of potent opioids such as fentanyl and its analogues have been reported mainly from North America, as well as from Asia, Europe and Oceania and have contributed to the unprecedented number of recent opioid overdose deaths. Moreover, particularly the non-medical use of tramadol, an opioid analgesic, continues to increase in parts of Africa and the Middle East with reported adverse health effects.

The rapidly emerging crisis which has resulted in significant harm to human health and welfare, including fatalities, calls for a coordinated, comprehensive and multidisciplinary response, which addresses public health and safety, and encompasses both demand and supply reduction initiatives, while promoting access and availability of opioids for medical and scientific purposes.