On March 11 in Vienna, a high-level special event was held on the topic "UN and SCO: Developing Early Warning Systems for New Synthetic Drugs and Psychoactive Substances" as part of the 69th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The event was organized by the SCO Secretariat and the UNODC, made possible by the initiative of Kyrgyzstan, which will chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2026.
During the discussions, participants emphasized that the growth and spread of new synthetic drugs pose serious challenges to the international control system, requiring the development of relevant response mechanisms.
Participants particularly noted the importance of establishing national and regional early warning mechanisms capable of effectively identifying new substances, analyzing associated risks, and ensuring timely preventive and law enforcement measures.
There was also an emphasis on the need to deepen international cooperation, exchange analytical data, and coordinate actions among countries and international organizations to enhance the effectiveness of the fight against the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs.
