The Global SMART (Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends) Programme improves the capacity of targeted Member States to generate, manage,   analyse, report and use information on illicit synthetic drugs.  The SMART programme was launched in September 2008 in Bangkok.

Currently, the Global SMART Programme provides capacity-building to 11 countries in East and South-East Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam). In January 2011, Global SMART expanded to Latin America.

Since 2011, the Global SMART Programme has played a pioneering role in highlighting the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) (see Global SMART Update Vol.6). In 2013, the first global situation assessment “The challenge of new psychoactive substances” was carried out by the Global SMART Programme pursuant to CND Resolution 55/1 (2012) on “Promoting international cooperation in responding to the challenges posed by new psychoactive substances”. This constituted the first step in providing consolidated up to-date analysis, based primarily on the information shared by Member States and the network of drug analysis laboratories participating in the UNODC International Collaborative Exercises (ICE).

Pursuant to CND Resolution 56/4 (2013) “Enhancing international cooperation in the identification and reporting of new psychoactive substances”, UNODC was urged to continue to develop the voluntary electronic portal of ICE, with a view to providing a global reference point and early warning advisory on new psychoactive substances. The Global SMART Programme leads the development of this UNODC/NPS Early Warning Advisory.

To contribute to an improved understanding and effective assessment of the synthetic drugs situation and the patterns of their distribution and use, the Global SMART Programme publishes a number of research reports, available at our website: UNODC/SMART Programme