What are the new psychoactive substances in Europe?

October 9, 2025 •

3 min read

As of the end of 2024, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) was monitoring 1,000 new psychoactive substances (NPS), with 47 of them being reported for the first time in Europe during that year [1.3.1]. So, what are the new psychoactive substances in Europe causing concern?

Quick Summary

Europe's drug market is seeing a rapid influx of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Key emerging threats include highly potent synthetic opioids like nitazenes, a surge in synthetic cathinones, and novel semi-synthetic cannabinoids.

Key Points

1,000 NPS Monitored: By the end of 2024, the EU's drug agency (EUDA) was monitoring 1,000 new psychoactive substances (NPS), with 47 new ones identified that year [1.3.1].
Nitazene Threat: Highly potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes, some hundreds of times stronger than heroin, are a growing cause of overdose deaths in Europe [1.5.2, 1.5.3].
Cathinone Production Surge: The production of synthetic cathinones (stimulants) within Europe is intensifying, with a significant increase in dismantled labs in 2023 [1.2.1].
Cannabinoid Diversity: The market includes both potent synthetic cannabinoids and new semi-synthetic cannabinoids (like HHC), often sold openly in products like vapes and edibles [1.3.1, 1.4.4].
Polysubstance Use is Common: Many NPS are found in mixtures with other drugs, often without the user's knowledge, which greatly increases health risks and complicates treatment [1.2.3, 1.3.7].
EU Early Warning System: The EU's EWS is a crucial tool for rapidly detecting, assessing, and responding to the threats posed by newly emerging substances [1.6.1, 1.7.5].
Record Seizures: Seizure data reflects the scale of the issue, with cathinones accounting for a vast majority of the quantity of NPS seized in Europe [1.4.3, 1.6.4].

The Evolving Landscape of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in Europe

The European drug market is more complex than ever, characterized by the continuous emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) designed to mimic the effects of controlled drugs while evading existing laws [1.4.6, 1.2.6]. These substances are often sold online, mislabelled, or mixed with other drugs, leaving users unaware of what they are consuming and increasing health risks [1.2.6]. The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), formerly the EMCDDA, plays a pivotal role in monitoring this dynamic market through the EU Early Warning System (EWS) [1.6.1]. By the end of 2024, the EWS was monitoring 1,000 different NPS [1.3.1]. In 2024 alone, 47 new substances were formally identified for the first time [1.3.1].

Major Categories of New Psychoactive Substances

The NPS market is diverse, but several key categories are prominent in Europe, posing significant public health challenges [1.4.3].

Highly Potent Synthetic Opioids: The Nitazene Threat

One of the most concerning trends is the rise of highly potent synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes [1.2.3]. These substances, originally developed as painkillers in the 1950s but never approved for medical use, can be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and even tens of times stronger than fentanyl [1.5.2, 1.5.3, 1.5.4]. Seven new nitazene opioids were notified in Europe in 2024, bringing the total identified to 22 [1.3.1].

Nitazenes are linked to a rising number of overdose deaths because they are often mixed with or mis-sold as other drugs like heroin or benzodiazepines [1.5.7, 1.5.4]. This means users with no opioid tolerance may be unknowingly exposed, leading to severe respiratory depression and fatal poisonings [1.5.4]. In 2023, the quantity of nitazenes seized in the EU tripled compared to the previous year, and preliminary data suggests they were linked to at least 150 deaths in Europe in 2023 [1.6.4, 1.5.5].

Synthetic Cathinones: Surging Production and Seizures

Synthetic cathinones, which mimic the effects of stimulants like amphetamines and cocaine, represent a major portion of the NPS market [1.4.6]. Substances such as 3-MMC, 3-CMC, and 2-MMC are frequently detected [1.4.3, 1.6.4]. Europe has seen a significant intensification of drug production, with 53 synthetic cathinone production sites dismantled in the EU in 2023, a sharp increase from 29 in 2022 [1.2.1].

Seizures of these substances have reached record levels. In 2023, just three cathinones (3-CMC, 2-MMC, and N-ethylnorpentedrone) along with ketamine accounted for almost 90% of the quantity of NPS seized by law enforcement in the EU [1.6.4]. These drugs are often linked to compulsive use patterns and can have severe psychological side effects [1.7.2].

Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids

This category includes two distinct groups:

Synthetic Cannabinoids: These are potent chemicals designed to mimic THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. They are often sprayed on plant material and sold as 'legal' alternatives, but their effects can be much more severe and unpredictable, leading to psychosis and even death [1.4.6, 1.7.2]. In 2024, 20 new synthetic cannabinoids were reported, bringing the total monitored to 277 [1.3.1].
Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids (SSCs): A newer market has emerged for substances like hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), which are often synthesized from legally available cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from hemp [1.4.2]. These are sold openly in various products like vapes and edibles, posing a challenge for regulators [1.4.4]. In 2024, 18 new SSC varieties were detected [1.5.1].

Comparison of Key NPS Categories


Feature	Synthetic Opioids (Nitazenes)	Synthetic Cathinones	Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids (SSCs)
Primary Effect	Sedative, euphoric (opioid-like) [1.5.3]	Stimulant (amphetamine/cocaine-like) [1.4.6]	Psychoactive (cannabis-like) [1.4.2]
Potency	Extremely high; hundreds of times stronger than heroin [1.5.2]	Varies, but can be high [1.7.2]	Varies; often sold as THC alternatives [1.4.2]
Common Forms	Powder, fake prescription pills, mixed with other drugs [1.5.3, 1.5.7]	Powder, crystals, tablets [1.3.5]	Vapes, edibles, oils [1.4.4, 1.3.3]
Primary Risk	High risk of fatal overdose due to respiratory depression [1.5.4]	Compulsive use, psychological distress, cardiac issues [1.7.2]	Unpredictable psychoactive effects, potential for poisonings [1.4.4, 1.6.6]
Legal Status	Increasingly controlled; 14 nitazenes became Class A drugs in the UK in 2024 [1.5.2, 1.7.5]	Many are controlled, but new variants emerge to evade laws [1.4.3]	Often legally ambiguous or sold openly in unregulated markets [1.5.1, 1.4.4]

Conclusion: A Call for Preparedness and Harm Reduction

The rapid evolution of the NPS market presents a significant threat to public health in Europe. The increasing availability and potency of substances like nitazenes, the industrial-scale production of cathinones, and the emergence of novel cannabinoids require a multi-faceted response [1.2.6]. The EUDA emphasizes the need for enhanced monitoring, better preparedness, and robust harm reduction strategies [1.7.2]. This includes strengthening early warning systems, increasing the capacity of toxicology labs to identify new substances, and providing timely risk communication to both healthcare professionals and the public to prevent poisonings and save lives [1.4.4, 1.7.2].

Authoritative Link: European Drug Report 2025 - EUDA

Frequently Asked Questions

A new psychoactive substance (NPS) is a drug that is not controlled by international drug conventions but may pose a public health threat similar to controlled drugs. They are often designed to mimic the effects of illicit substances like cannabis, cocaine, or heroin [1.4.4, 1.7.2].

Highly potent synthetic opioids, especially nitazenes, are considered among the most dangerous due to their high risk of causing fatal overdoses. They can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin and are often mixed into other drugs unbeknownst to the user [1.5.2, 1.5.3].

In 2024, 47 new psychoactive substances were reported for the first time in Europe through the EU Early Warning System [1.3.1].

Synthetic cathinones are a class of NPS that produce stimulant effects similar to amphetamine or cocaine. Examples include 3-MMC and 2-MMC. Europe has seen a major increase in their production and seizure [1.2.1, 1.4.6].

No. Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals that bind to the same brain receptors as THC from cannabis, but they are chemically different and can be much more potent and dangerous, with risks including severe poisoning and psychosis [1.7.2].

The EU operates a three-step legal framework: the EU Early Warning System (EWS) to detect new substances, a risk assessment process, and control measures to restrict harmful drugs. This is managed by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) in cooperation with Europol [1.7.5, 1.6.1].

Many NPS are produced on an industrial scale in countries like China and India and then shipped to Europe. However, there is also increasing evidence of large-scale production of synthetic drugs, like cathinones, within Europe itself [1.4.4, 1.2.1].