LISBON, Portugal - June 2016:  The 2016 European Drug Report - Trend and Development, published by the EMCDDA, provides an overview of the European drug situation, policies and responses. It examines the continued growth of the NPS market, illustrated by increasing NPS seizures and use. While synthetic cannabinoids are dominating the market followed by synthetic cathinones, synthetic opioids are singled out as a major health threat. Substances such as the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-CHMICA, the synthetic cathinone alpha-PVP and the synthetic opioid acetyl fentanyl are described as particularly harmful. Injecting use of synthetic cathinones continues to be reported in some specific populations.

The report states that although the tools for measuring NPS use still needs to be improved there has been a rise of countries including NPS in their general population surveys. The influence of NPS on the drug policy landscape is also discussed, with nearly a third of EU Member States’ national strategies having been extended beyond established illicit drugs.

For more information please see:
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/edr2016