Summary
The drug market in Europe is becoming increasingly dynamic and volatile (EMCDDA, 2024). Changes at the global level, such as the ban on opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and a potential resulting heroin shortage, could have consequences for the situation in Europe and Germany. Without a drastic heroin shortage having occurred so far, the European Drug Agency (EUDA) reports in its annual report that the substance class nitazene (see info box below) has already led to more than 150 deaths in several European countries in 2023 (EMCDDA, 2024). In addition, nitazene has been sold in other European countries as an additive to various substances under different names. In September 2024, the EUDA called on EU member states to prepare for a potentially increased occurrence of synthetic opioids and the associated risks (EUDA, 2024).
This trendspotter survey was conducted against this background, as well as reports from Germany about an increase in the consumption of opioid-containing painkillers.
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Trendspotter - Synthetic opioids
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- Open access
- Germany
- German