The number of new synthetic drugs on the European market is rising sharply according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in its annual report. The agency is warning of the risks to users’ health, as the rapidly changing world of drugs poses significant dangers.
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Drug agency warns of a proliferation of synthetic drugs: ‘We discover a new substance every week’
Colin Clapson
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The European drug market is evolving rapidly, as the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) explained during the presentation of the annual report.
On average, a new psychoactive substance is discovered every week. In 2025 alone, 50 new substances were reported, bringing the total number of substances monitored to 1,050.
This increases the risks to public health, as the market becomes more unpredictable, says Lorraine Nolan, Executive Director of the EUDA. ‘People may be using very potent drugs, often without realising it.’
Combined use
An additional risk is the combined use of different substances. Opioids remain the leading cause of death, but they are almost always found in combination with other substances.
These combinations not only increase the risk of a fatal overdose but also complicate medical treatment in emergencies. The report notes that “people combine drugs in ways that increase the risks”.
According to the European Drug Report, at least 7,600 overdose deaths were recorded in the EU, Norway and Turkey. These figures painfully expose the human cost of drug use, says Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The emergence of extremely potent synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes and orphines, poses another threat. These substances are increasingly being found in the form of counterfeit medicines that mimic legal painkillers such as oxycodone.
In 2024, more than 50,000 tablets containing nitazene were seized, double the number from the previous year. There is significant concern that these substances are also reaching vulnerable groups like young people.
The report also highlights a shift in consumption patterns. Vaping e-cigarettes containing synthetic cannabinoids are part of an emerging trend among young people. This creates a new delivery method for potentially harmful substances, it states.
To tackle the proliferation of synthetic drugs, the agency emphasises the importance of the EU Early Warning System, a system designed to alert European Member States at an early stage to new substances and emerging trends.
‘Smuggling networks are adapting’
At the same time, criminal networks are stepping up their recruitment activities, the report says. According to Commissioner Brunner, the networks exploit social vulnerabilities to recruit young people for drug smuggling and violence.
Enforcement is hampered by the speed with which smuggling networks adapt their tactics. Following tighter controls in major ports such as Antwerp and Rotterdam, criminals are now turning to smaller ports.
There is increasing use of technological innovations including drones and semi-submersibles. Handover operations are also more frequently taking place on the open sea using so-called ‘go-fast’ boats (narrow and powerful motorboats).
EU Commissioner Brunner emphasises that the focus is now on ‘depriving drug gangs of their revenue stream’ by fully enforcing the law and strengthening international cooperation. ‘In addition to enforcement, continued investment in prevention and harm reduction remains essential.’