Europe’s drug market is becoming more complex and dangerous, with authorities warning that vaping products are increasingly being used to deliver new psychoactive substances.
The European Union Drugs Agency, in its 2026 European Drug Report, says synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids remain a growing concern, including in e-liquids used in vapes. The agency also warns that highly potent synthetic opioids, although still playing a relatively small role in Europe’s overall drug market, could become a more prominent threat.
The concern comes as youth vaping continues to spread across Europe. According to the 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 44% of students in participating countries said they had tried e-cigarettes at least once. The survey also found that 16% had tried e-cigarettes at age 13 or younger.
A market adapting quickly
EUDA says criminal networks are adapting quickly to changes in consumer behaviour and legal controls. In 2025, European countries identified 27 new cannabinoids, 16 of which were semi-synthetic cannabinoids.
The agency says there are concerns over the adulteration of low-THC cannabis and CBD products with synthetic cannabinoids, the re-emergence of “legal high” products and increased vaping of e-liquids containing these substances.
These products may be sold as legal or low-risk alternatives, but EUDA warns that the health effects of many newer compounds remain poorly understood. Some can expose users to severe or even fatal poisoning.
Vapes, edibles and flavoured products
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids are often available online and, in some countries, through physical retail outlets such as vape shops, CBD stores, convenience stores and vending machines. EUDA says the main products include flavoured edibles, vapes and low-THC cannabis sprayed or mixed with cannabinoids.
That accessibility, combined with the perception that the products are legal or harmless, may attract both existing cannabis users and first-time users, including children and young adults.
The agency also warns that users may not always know what they are consuming. Synthetic cannabinoids can be mis-sold or used to adulterate other products, increasing the risk of poisoning.
Potent opioids remain a separate threat
EUDA’s 2026 report also highlights the risk from new synthetic opioids, including fentanyl derivatives, nitazenes and orphines. These substances are highly potent, and the agency notes that minuscule quantities can be enough to make a retail-level dose.
While new synthetic opioids still account for a relatively small part of Europe’s drug market, EUDA says they already represent a significant problem in the Baltic countries and could become more prominent elsewhere.
In 2024, authorities in 10 countries detected more than 50,000 nitazene-containing tablets, compared with 23,000 in 2023 and just 380 in 2022.
The agency says Europe must strengthen preparedness, improve monitoring of retail drug markets and respond quickly to poisoning outbreaks linked to highly potent synthetic opioids or other dangerous substances.
Youth prevention in focus
The ESPAD findings underline why authorities are paying particular attention to young people. The survey shows that e-cigarette use has become widespread among 15- and 16-year-olds, while current e-cigarette use rose from 14% in 2019 to 22% in 2024 among countries with comparable data.
EUDA says the evolving market requires vigilance from health services, schools, parents and law enforcement. The risk is not only that young people may deliberately experiment with synthetic drugs, but also that they may consume substances unknowingly through products presented as ordinary vape liquids or cannabis alternatives.
Source: iefimerida.gr
