EU agency warns of rising synthetic opioid health risks
The European Union Drugs Agency reports a rapid shift in the illicit drug market as synthetic opioids like nitazenes and fentanyl cause more fatalities. Supply routes are also evolving with cannabis increasingly sourced from North America and cocaine arriving through smaller ports.
The European Union Drugs Agency identified 50 new psychoactive substances in 2025 as synthetic opioids reshaped the region's illicit market. European fatal overdoses reached 7,600 in 2024, representing a mortality rate of 25 deaths per million adults. Rising synthetic risks and legislative shifts in major economies create new enforcement challenges and market volatility for regional security.
