In his annual report from 2024, which was released on Tuesday, Incb explains that as opposed to plant -based drugs, These drugs can be made anywhere without the need for large -scale cultivation, making them easier and cheaper for human traffickers to produce and distribute.
The increase of heavy opioids such as fentanyl and nitazener potent enough to cause overdoses in small doses-have worsened the crisis and drives record high deaths.
“The rapid extension of the illegal synthetic pharmaceutical industry represents a large global public health threat With potentially disastrous consequences for humanity, ”said Incb President Jallal Toufiq.
“We have to work together to take stronger action against this deadly problem causing hundreds of deaths and countless damage to the communities,” he continued.
Human traffickers remain in front of the rules
Criminal groups are constantly adapting to avoid law enforcement.
By utilizing legal loopholes developing new synthetic connections And use artificial intelligence to find alternative chemicals for drug production.
New smuggling methods – including drones and postal delivery – make these drugs more difficult to detect.
As a result, Seizures of synthetic substances now surpass them from traditional plant -based drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Patchwork response
Despite the efforts to limit synthetic drugs, the answers remain fragmented, allowing human traffickers to remain ahead.
INCB calls for stronger global cooperation, including partnerships between governments, private companies and international organizations, to disrupt supply chains and prevent harm.
Medicine out of reach
While synthetic drugs flood illegal markets, millions of people in low and middle -income countries still lack access to medical pain relief.
The report emphasizes that opioid painkillers such as morphine remain inaccessible in regions such as Africa, South Asia and Central America – not due to lack of delivery, but due to barriers in distribution and regulation.
Incb calls for opioid producing nations to increase production and affordable prices to improve palliative care and pain management.
Regional Hotspots concerns
The report identifies several regions where synthetic drug trafficking is expanded.
In Europe, the threatening heroin deficit is after Afghanistan’s opium ban from 2022 could push more users against synthetic alternatives While you were in North America, in spite of the efforts to limit the crisis, Synthetic Opioid -related deaths remain at record highs.
Manufacture, human trafficking and the use of stimulants of amphetamine-type rise across the Middle East and Africa, where treatment and rehabilitation services are often inadequate.
Meanwhile, in the Asia-Stophav region, metamphetamine and ketamine trafficking continue to grow, especially in the golden triangle.
Call for urgent action
INCB calls on governments to strengthen international cooperation, improve data sharing and expand drug abuse and treatment services.
Without decisive action, the synthetic drug trafficking will continue to develop and put more lives at risk.
