GENEVA, Switzerland – September 2024: 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).

Seven new psychoactive substances (NPS) will be considered for critical review at the 47th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence of the WHO (ECDD), including one synthetic cannabinoid, four nitazenes, one phencyclidine-type substance and one synthetic cathinone. Moreover, the medicine carisoprodol will be considered for critical review.

The ECDD will be held from 14 to 18 October 2024. Analysis and data from UNODC’s Early Warning Advisory on NPS (EWA) and Tox-Portal is provided to WHO for the prioritization of NPS and their consideration for scheduling recommendations by the ECDD.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists

1. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)

Nitazenes (Synthetic opioids)

2. Protonitazepyne (N-pyrrolidino protonitazene)

3. Metonitazepyne (N-pyrrolidino metonitazene)

4. Etonitazepipne (N-piperidinyl Etonitazene)

5. N-Desethyl-isotonitazene


Phencyclidine-type substance (Dissociatives)

6. 3-Hydroxy-phencyclidine (3-OH-PCP)


Synthetic cathinones (Stimulants)

7. N-Ethylheptedrone


Medicine
Carisoprodol

For more information, please see:

47th ECDD List of Substances Under Review (Provisional Agenda)

World Health Organization 47th Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

UNODC, SMART Forensics Update: Beyond plants: semi-synthetics diversify the cannabis market (May 2024).

UNODC EWA news: Nitazenes – a new group of synthetic opioids emerges (February 2024).