The rapid rise of synthetic drugs is reshaping the global drug trade. It is worsening a growing public health emergency, according to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in its 2024 Annual Report.
Unlike plant-based substances like heroin or cocaine, synthetic drugs can be manufactured anywhere without large-scale cultivation. This makes them cheaper and easier for traffickers to produce and distribute.
“The rapid expansion of the illicit synthetic drug industry represents a major global public health threat. It has potentially disastrous consequences for humankind,” said INCB President Jallal Toufiq.
RISE OF DEADLY SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS
Potent opioids like fentanyl and nitazenes—strong enough to cause overdoses in tiny doses—are fueling record-breaking drug deaths worldwide.
“We need to work together to take stronger action against this deadly problem,” Toufiq urged. “This issue is causing hundreds of deaths daily. It is devastating communities.”
CRIMINAL NETWORKS STAY AHEAD OF REGULATIONS
Drug traffickers are constantly adapting to evade law enforcement.
- Exploiting legal loopholes: Criminals modify chemical structures to bypass drug bans.
- Using AI to create new compounds: Artificial intelligence helps traffickers design alternative synthetic drugs.
- Innovative smuggling techniques: Drones, dark web sales, and postal deliveries make detection harder.
As a result, seizures of synthetic drugs now exceed those of traditional plant-based narcotics.
A FRAGMENTED RESPONSE TO A GROWING CRISIS
Despite efforts to curb the synthetic drug trade, international responses remain disjointed, allowing traffickers to stay ahead.
The INCB calls for stronger global cooperation. It urges governments, private companies, and international organizations to disrupt supply chains. They should also expand prevention efforts.
OPIOID MEDICATIONS STILL INACCESSIBLE FOR MILLIONS
While synthetic drugs flood illegal markets, millions in low- and middle-income countries lack access to essential pain relief.
The report highlights that morphine and other opioid painkillers remain unavailable in Africa, South Asia, and Central America. This issue is not due to supply shortages. Instead, it is because of regulatory barriers.
The INCB is urging opioid-producing nations to increase production and affordability to improve pain management and palliative care.
REGIONAL HOTSPOTS FOR SYNTHETIC DRUG TRAFFICKING
The report identifies several regions where synthetic drug production and trafficking are rapidly expanding:
- Europe: Afghanistan’s 2022 opium ban may create a heroin shortage, pushing users toward synthetic opioids.
- North America: Despite aggressive countermeasures, fentanyl deaths remain at record highs.
- Middle East & Africa: The trade of amphetamine-type stimulants is surging, but treatment options remain inadequate.
- Asia-Pacific: Methamphetamine and ketamine trafficking continue growing, especially in the Golden Triangle region.
URGENT CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION
The INCB is calling for immediate and coordinated international efforts, including:
- Strengthening global data-sharing to track and combat synthetic drug production.
- Expanding drug prevention and treatment services worldwide.
- Enhancing international cooperation to close trafficking loopholes.
Without decisive action, the synthetic drug crisis will continue to evolve, endangering countless lives worldwide.
