Increasing availability and production of synthetic cathinones in Europe – a perspective from the EU EWS

Background

Synthetic cathinones are sold as ‘legal’ alternatives to controlled stimulants such as amphetamine, MDMA and cocaine. In a small number of cases, such as mephedrone, they have become sought-after substances in their own right. The cathinones are used recreationally, but they are also used by high-risk drug users in some countries, including by people who inject stimulants and opioids. This also includes in the context of chemsex.

Methods

The EU Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances (EWS) allows Europe to rapidly detect, assess, and respond to public health threats linked to new psychoactive substances (NPS). Data collected and analysed include event-based data on seizures by law enforcement, collected samples and serious adverse events linked to NPS. These data are complemented by annual reports, which include aggregated data on seizures and from poisonings.

Results

At the end of 2023, the EMCDDA was monitoring around 170 synthetic cathinones, making them the second-largest category of NPS monitored after synthetic cannabinoids. After falling from a peak of 1.9 tonnes in 2016, the quantity of seizures of synthetic cathinones in Europe rose sharply between 2020 and 2022, increasing to 3.3 tonnes in 2020, 4.5 tonnes in 2021, to 26.5 tonnes in 2022. This increase was driven by a few large-scale seizures by customs agencies in the Netherlands and Spain. Until around 2019, most bulk quantities of synthetic cathinones seized at the external EU borders originated in China. However, since then, production has also diversified to India, where they are apparently produced on a large scale. In addition, the production of synthetic cathinones in parts of Europe continues to grow. In November 2021, the EMCDDA risk assessed 3-MMC and 3-CMC —substances that were first reported in Europe in 2012 and 2014, respectively, but re-emerged in around 2020.

Conclusion

Synthetic cathinones are becoming more available in Europe, where they have the potential to play an increasing role in the stimulant market in the future. Of potential concern are signs of a possible increase in synthetic cathinones mis-sold as or used to adulterate MDMA identified by the EU Early Warning System.