EU drug market sees surge in new synthetic substances, warns European agency

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EUDA) released its 2026 European drug report, highlighting a rapid evolution of drug markets across 29 countries, including the EU, Norway and Turkey. The agency noted the appearance of more than 1,050 psycho‑active substances, among them new powerful synthetic opioids, and recorded at least 7,600 overdose deaths in 2025. EU officials called for stronger prevention, treatment, harm‑reduction and law‑enforcement measures, warning that “the variety of substances on European streets is becoming increasingly unpredictable”.

In Italy, Professor Gabriele Sani of the CEPID at Rome’s Policlinico Gemelli warned that youth addictions are expanding beyond traditional drugs to include digital compulsions linked to social media, AI and video games. He stressed that “new dependencies threaten the lives of thousands of young people”, noting rising use of cocaine, synthetic drugs and the silent spread of digital addiction. The combined warnings underscore growing health risks from both chemical and behavioural addictions across Europe.