The New Drug World: Strengthening Collaboration to Address Synthetic Drug Threats

This report examines how the rapid growth of synthetic drug markets is transforming the global drug landscape and challenging traditional approaches to drug control. Unlike plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin, synthetic drugs can be manufactured almost anywhere using a wide range of precursor chemicals, making production more flexible and difficult to disrupt.

The report highlights that synthetic drug markets are now present in almost every country and have experienced the fastest growth of any criminal market since 2021. Lower barriers to production have enabled both organised criminal groups and smaller actors to enter the market, increasing the complexity of the global drug trade. The authors argue that these evolving threats require stronger international collaboration, improved information sharing, and coordinated responses to effectively address the growing challenges posed by synthetic drugs.