A report from the Commission reveals the need of a tougher action across the European Union to tackle the growing problem of new synthetic drugs entering the market. The EU indentified a record number of 41 such psychoactive substances, which imitate the effects of dangerous drugs like ecstasy or cocaine and are sold legally, in 2010, up from 24 the previous year. 

The report assesses the EU's mechanism for dealing with new psychoactive substances entering the European market. The mechanism involves early warnings about new substances between EU member states, risk assessment and, potentially, Europe-wide control measures. As conclusion, the report finds that the system for early warnings works well, but that the overall mechanism has struggled to keep up with the large numbers of new substances coming on the market. The current system also lacks a range of effective options for control measures. For instance, it is easy for people to get around the current control measures and create new drugs that may be legal but have serious harmful effects.

Among the findings, the report reveals that new psychoactive substances are becoming widely available in Europe at an unprecedented pace. 115 such substances were reported since 2005. They included a plant-based substance, synthetic derivatives of well-established drugs, and so-called ‘designer drugs'.

In addition, new substances that imitate the effects of illicit drugs are increasingly popular with 5% of young Europeans saying they have used them, according to a new Eurobarometer survey. The figures are the highest in Ireland (16%), followed by Poland, Latvia, the UK and Luxembourg. The Eurobarometer reveals that across all 27 EU Member States, a large majority of 15 to 24 year-olds are in favour of banning these substances.

The EU Drugs Strategy for 2005-2012, presented in 2008 and its two implementing Drugs Action Plans (2005-2008 and 2009-2012) set out the EU’s coherent and balanced approach to reduce users’ demand and the supply of drugs. Even so, the Commission is considering various ways to make the EU rules more effective, such as alternative options to criminal sanctions, new ways of monitoring substances that cause concern, and aligning drugs control measures with those for food and product safety. In the autumn, the Commission will present a series of options in this respect.