WHO: Nine New Psychoactive Substances to be considered for critical review by 45th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

GENEVA, Switzerland – July 2022: 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).

Nine new psychoactive substances (NPS) will be considered for critical review at the 45th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence of the WHO including one synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist, two benzodiazepines, four synthetic opioids and two synthetic cathinones. The medicine Zopiclone will be considered for pre-review.

The ECDD will be held from 10-14 October 2022. Analysis and data from UNODC’s Early Warning Advisory on NPS (EWA) is provided to WHO for the prioritization of NPS and their consideration for scheduling recommendations by the ECDD.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist

1. ADB-BUTINACA

Benzodiazepines

2. Adinazolam
3. Bromazolam

Synthetic opioids

4. Protonitazene (propoxynitazene)
5. Etazene (etodesnitazene)
6. Etonitazepyne (N-pyrrolidino etonitazene)
7. 2-Methyl-AP-237

Synthetic cathinones

8. alpha-PiHP
9. 3-Methylmethcathinone (3-MMC)

For more information, please see:

45th ECDD List of Substances Under Review

World Health Organization 45th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

Global SMART Update Vol. 25 “Regional diversity and the impact of scheduling on NPS trends”

***The Spanish translation of this news item is made possible thanks to a collaboration with OAS/CICAD, a partner of the UNODC EWA.***