November 2025 – UNODC EWA: Top ten globally most widespread newly emerged NPS in drug samples in 2024/25
November 2025 – UNODC EWA: Top ten globally most widespread newly emerged NPS in drug samples in 2024/25
VIENNA, Austria – 27 November 2025: To date, a total of 125 new NPS were reported for the first time globally in drug samples in 2024 and 2025, with data collection for 2025 still ongoing. The most widespread NPS was delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol acetate, identified across every continent (see Table 1). Other substances identified with significant global reach included AB-MDMSBA, ethylbromazolam, N-isopropylbutylone, protodesnitazene and 5-cyano Isotodesnitazene (each reported on four continents). These were followed by a synthetic cannabinoid, a kratom-related substance and two nitazenes, all of which have emerged on three continents.
Nitazenes were the most prominent group and despite some were only identified in 2025, they already have been identified on four continents.
| Substance name | Structural group | Continents where NPS was identified | # Reporter countries | # Drug samples1 | Form of drug sample2 | Quarter/ Year of first report |
| delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol acetate | Synthetic cannabinoids | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America | 17 | 50 | Liquid, Others | Q3/2024 |
| N-isopropylbutylone | Synthetic cathinones | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania | 11 | 135 | Tablet | Q1/2024 |
| AB-MDMSBA | Synthetic cannabinoids | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania | 7 | 22 | Powder, Others | Q3/2024 |
| Ethylbromazolam | Benzodiazepines | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania | 6 | 534 | Tablet, Powder, Others | Q4/2024 |
| Protodesnitazene | Nitazenes | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania | 5 | 169 | Powder, Others | Q1/2025 |
| 5-cyano Isotodesnitazene | Nitazenes | Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania | 4 | 8 | Powder | Q2/2025 |
| N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene | Nitazenes | Europe, North America, Oceania | 10 | 33 | Powder, Tablet | Q3/2024 |
| 7-Hydroxymitragynine | Plant-based substances | Europe, North America, Oceania | 5 | 13 | Powder, Tablet | Q4/2024 |
| Methylenedioxynitazene | Nitazenes | Europe, North America, Oceania | 4 | 7 | Powder | Q2/2024 |
| 4-fluoro-ADB | Synthetic cannabinoids | Asia, Europe, North America | 3 | 10 | Liquid | Q2/2024 |
Table 1: Globally most prevalent newly emerged NPS in drug samples in 2024/25, by number of continents identified
Source: United Nations, UNODC Early Warning Advisory on New Psychoactive Substances (EWA), Database (accessed on 26 November 2025).
Notes: 1At present, a limited number of countries from Asia, Central America, North America, Europe and Oceania report data on the number of drug samples, with ongoing efforts to expand this data collection. 2Form of drug sample information is indicated where available; “Other” refers to samples that are not categorized as tablet, powder, liquid or plants.
The global spread of these newly emerging substances highlights the need for awareness and close monitoring. Helping to prioritise further research, updated reference standards, analytical methods and screening processes for drug testing and toxicology laboratories, to ensure effective identification and differentiation.
The latest data on NPS are accessible via the Dashboard Pro (available for registered users – if not registered please sign up here). The UNODC EWA database is updated on a weekly basis. The NPS chemical information page provides pharmacological and analytical data, where available, upon login. In addition, UNODC EWA issues a range of Early Warning Advisories on the latest NPS developments which can be accessed here.
