In a significant move to curb the rising threat of synthetic drugs, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has placed five new psychoactive substances and one medicine under international control. This decision, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), was announced during the 68th regular session of the CND, held from March 10 to 14, 2025.

The recommendations were developed by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), a scientific advisory body that evaluates the health risks and benefits of psychoactive substances circulating in global markets. These evaluations help determine whether certain substances should be subjected to international drug control measures. The latest review identified six substances that pose significant harm to public health, warranting their inclusion in international regulatory frameworks.

Dr. Deus Mubangizi, WHO Director for Health Product Policy and Standards, emphasized the urgent need for action, stating that these substances are clandestinely manufactured and pose serious risks to society without any recognized therapeutic use. He welcomed the decision of the Commission to accept WHO’s full set of recommendations, highlighting that this move would encourage greater vigilance among countries and communities, particularly in protecting vulnerable populations such as young people.

Among the newly controlled substances, four synthetic opioids—N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene, N-Pyrrolidino metonitazene, Etonitazepipne, and N-Desethyl isotonitazene—have been placed under Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961). These opioids, found in falsified pharmaceutical tablets and various powder forms, have been linked to significant harm, including multiple fatalities, and have no known medical use. The abuse of these substances, often through smoking, snorting, or injection, has been a growing concern in several regions, prompting WHO to recommend their strict regulation.

Additionally, Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, has been placed under Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971). HHC has gained popularity in cannabis-infused products such as e-liquids, edibles, and resins, with evidence suggesting it is being misused in ways that constitute a public health and social concern. Another substance, Carisoprodol, a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant, has been classified under Schedule IV of the same convention. Though available as a pharmaceutical product, Carisoprodol has been increasingly detected in falsified medications, with its nonmedical use contributing to significant public health risks in several countries.

For over seven decades, WHO’s ECDD has played a crucial role in guiding global drug policies to protect public health while ensuring essential psychoactive substances remain available for medical and scientific purposes. As an advisory body to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the ECDD conducts scientific reviews and provides recommendations to inform international drug policy decisions.

With the increasing emergence of dangerous synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes, WHO expects to conduct further reviews in the coming years to assess the risks of new substances. The latest decision by the UN Commission represents a crucial step in strengthening global efforts to control highly potent drugs, ensuring stricter regulations and preventive measures to address the growing threat posed by these substances.