VIENNA, Austria – November 2021: The UNODC Current NPS Threats Vol. IV presents recent analysis from the UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on NPS by combining data from NPS identified in seized material with toxicology information from post-mortem, clinical, and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases. This allows to identify key developments regarding health threats associated with the use of NPS. Polydrug use continues to be an important feature in NPS casework. 79 per cent of all post-mortem cases associated with the use of NPS involved more than one substance.

Benzodiazepine-type NPS remain a primary NPS threat, identified in 69 per cent of toxicology cases. Benzodiazepines are a structural group of central nervous system depressants that are widely used in medicine as anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, sedatives, skeletal muscle relaxants and tranquilizers. In total, 38 benzodiazepines are already under international control with controls on additional three (clonazolam, diclazepam and flubromazolam) under Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances to enter into force by the end of 2021.

For further information please see:

UNODC, Current NPS Threats Volume IV (November 2021).

UNODC, UNODC: CND decision on international control of isotonitazene enters into force - remaining decisions will enter into force in December 2021, newsclip (June 2021).

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