EU drugs agency warns of 'unpredictable' market as synthetic opioids spread and 7,600 die from overdoses

The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has issued a stark warning about the rapid evolution of Europe's illicit drug market, highlighting the growing threat of synthetic opioids and the increasing diversity of psychoactive substances available on the streets. The findings were published in the agency's annual report on 9 June 2026.

A market in flux

The report, drawing on data from the 27 EU member states, Norway and Turkey, notes that at least 50 new psychoactive substances were identified for the first time in Europe in 2025. This brings the total number of substances monitored by the EU's early warning system to 1,050. The agency's Executive Director, Lorraine Nolan, described a market moving at a breakneck pace.

Drug markets are evolving at speed, with the variety of substances on Europe's streets becoming ever more unpredictable. This raises the risk of people taking high-potency drugs, often without knowing it.

The synthetic opioid threat

A key concern is the rise of synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes. These substances have been found in counterfeit benzodiazepines and common street drugs like cocaine, heroin and ketamine. In England and Wales, nitazenes were tied to 195 deaths in 2024, nearly four times the previous year's count. In Bulgaria, fentanyl was linked to over 100 deaths between 2024 and 2025, with fatalities spreading beyond the capital, Sofia. Seven new synthetic opioids were reported via the EU's early warning system in 2025 alone.

Overdose deaths and polydrug use

The EUDA estimates there were at least 7,600 fatal overdoses across the EU in 2024, with a mortality rate of 25 deaths per million people aged 15 to 64. Opioids, including heroin, were responsible for around seven out of ten of these deaths. The agency also stressed that polydrug use is common, with people combining different drugs in ways that increase the risks.

Polydrug use is also common, with people combining different drugs in a way that increases the risks.

Cannabis and cocaine remain dominant

Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug in Europe, with 24.9 million adults aged 15 to 64 reporting use in the past year. The continent's illicit cannabis market is valued at around €12 billion, and cannabis accounted for 68% of the roughly one million drug seizures reported by EU countries in 2024. The report also notes the emergence of synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids sold in e-cigarettes and edible products, raising concerns about uptake by younger users. Cocaine remains the second-most prevalent drug, with 4.3 million adults reporting use in 2024.

Trafficking routes and youth recruitment

The report highlights a reshuffling of supply routes. Cocaine is increasingly arriving through smaller, less-scrutinised ports, while cannabis is now flowing from Canada and the United States, where regulatory changes and overproduction have lowered prices. Smugglers are also turning to drones, speedboats and semi-submersibles. The EUDA warns that supply chains increasingly involve young people recruited by cartels from deprived districts of European cities, with their tasks extending beyond logistics to intimidation and violent assaults.