There are increasingly more synthetic opioids in circulation, warns the UN. The increase is believed to lead to more fatal overdoses.
The development is attributed partly to the Taliban's hard hit against Afghan opium farmers. An extremely potent synthetic variant has already been seized several times in Sweden.
The Afghan Taliban government's ban on drug production in 2022 contributed to a 75 per cent drop in global opium production last year, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In its annual report, they now warn of unwanted consequences of the Taliban ban.
"The result of a long-term lack of Afghan opioids can have a range of consequences in Afghanistan and in transit and destination countries for Afghan opioids. The purity of heroin on the market is expected to decrease," it says in the report.
Seizures in Sweden
In the absence of heroin produced from opium from Afghanistan, more and more addicts are expected to turn to more dangerous, synthetic opioids. Above all, an increase in nitazeners – narcotics-classified, synthetic substances that can be up to 1,000 times stronger than morphine and very deadly even in small doses – is predicted.
Nitazeners have been seized in both Sweden and Norway several times in recent months, according to media reports.
The EU's drugs agency, EMCDDA, also predicted an increase in synthetic opioids in Europe earlier this year.
Record amounts of cocaine
Otherwise, the UNODC's annual report shows that the number of people using various types of drugs worldwide continues to rise. Over the past ten years, global drug use has increased by 20 per cent, according to the report.
Cannabis tops the list of users, followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy. The global cocaine production reached record-high levels in 2022, notes the UNODC, totalling over 2,700 tonnes.
"The continuous increase in both supply and demand for cocaine coincides with an increase in violence in countries along the supply chain, particularly in Ecuador and Caribbean countries, as well as an increase in health damage in destination countries in Western and Central Europe," they write in the report.
Opioids – which include heroin, morphine, and codeine – come from raw opium extracted from the opium poppy plant.
Their pain-relieving and intoxicating properties have been used for thousands of years and are still used in controlled forms as painkillers in healthcare.
Fully synthetic opioids are manufactured in laboratories and have the same effect, but can be significantly stronger. Some variants of synthetic opioids have been shown to be at least as deadly as chemical warfare agents in studies. Among the synthetic variants are methadone, tramadol, and fentanyl.
Opioids affect the body's central nervous system. The immediate effect is strong feelings of euphoria, and hunger, pain, and sexual desire can disappear.
Opioids are addictive because they give a strong high and the body quickly develops tolerance to them. Too large doses can lead to respiratory arrest and death.
The withdrawal symptoms are severe.
Sources: Beroendecentrum, Medibas, Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut.
