Fight against illicit drugs: Commission proposes to ban seven new substances

Further information:

The seven new psychoactive substances, including those commonly known as "spice", "herbal incense" and "legal weed", belong to two categories: four of them are synthetic cannabinoids, with effects similar to cannabis but much more toxic, while the other three substances are synthetic opioids closely related to fentanyl, a substance controlled at international level. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), these toxic substances are associated with over 170 deaths across the EU and a number of acute intoxications.

Currently, these seven new psychoactive substances are not covered by international drugs controls and remain a serious challenge to European public health, especially for young people. The Commission therefore considers that there are grounds for subjecting all seven substances to control measures across the EU. The Commission's proposals (listed below) will be discussed in the Council, which, in consultation with the European Parliament, will decide whether to adopt the measures.

- 1-(4-cyanobutyl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (CUMYL-4CN-BINACA)
- Methyl 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-[phenyl(propanoyl)amino]piperidine-4-carboxylate (carfentanil)
- Methyl 2-{[1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5F-MDMB-PINACA)
- N-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl)propanamide (4-fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl)
- N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-CHMINACA)
- N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AB-CHMINACA)
- N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]oxolane-2-carboxamide (tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl; THF-F)

On 18 December 2017, the Commission proposed to subject seven new psychoactive substances (NPS) to control measures. These toxic substances can cause severe harm to health and can even lead to death, and pose a growing threat to public health in Europe.

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