The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) continues to monitor illicit drug production and precursor chemicals across Europe to improve understanding of how drug markets are evolving. Production within the European Union is primarily focused on synthetic stimulants, including amphetamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and synthetic cathinones, while production methods are becoming increasingly flexible and adaptive.

The report also highlights the significant environmental and public safety risks associated with illicit drug production. Drug manufacturing can generate large amounts of hazardous chemical...

This paper explores how law enforcement can contribute to the prevention of substance use and other behavioural health risks beyond their traditional enforcement role. Using the United States as an example, it argues that police and other law enforcement agencies are important community partners who can support evidence-based prevention efforts.

Drawing on insights from police science, the paper outlines practical roles that law enforcement can play in prevention frameworks, including community engagement, early intervention, partnership building, and support for public health initiatives. It...

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has released its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), providing an overview of the threats posed by illicit drugs and the transnational criminal organizations involved in their production and trafficking. The report highlights the continuing impact of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, on public health, public safety, and national security.

While overdose deaths in the United States have declined significantly over the past year, synthetic drugs remain the leading driver of drug-related fatalities. The report also...

The UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs is a practical online resource coordinated by UNODC that brings together tools, guidance, and operational resources from across the UN system to support responses to the global synthetic drug problem. Covering topics such as diversion prevention, investigations, trafficking, criminal financing, and cybercrime, the Toolkit is regularly updated to help policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and practitioners address the rapidly evolving synthetic drug landscape.

ISSUP will be sharing selected modules, tools, and resources from the UN Toolkit on Synthetic...

UNODC has launched a new Security Document Examination module within the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs, developed in collaboration with the UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Services. The module aims to help law enforcement, border control authorities, and forensic experts detect and respond to the use of fraudulent documents in synthetic drug trafficking.

Criminal networks often rely on forged passports, identity documents, and manipulated shipping and travel records to conceal identities and facilitate cross-border operations. The new module provides practical guidance on document examination...

The European Commission has introduced new controls on nine high-risk chemical precursors used in illicit drug production under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314. Most of these substances are linked to synthetic cathinones, while one is used in amphetamine production.

This measure responds to the growing scale of synthetic drug production in Europe, with dozens of production sites dismantled in recent years. The regulation is based on updated risk assessments that improve understanding of how precursor chemicals are sourced and diverted into illegal markets.

Overall, the new controls aim to...