New Psychoactive Substances

A new health alert reports carfentanil in counterfeit “M30” tablets and powders seized at the United States Southwest border. Carfentanil is an extremely potent synthetic opioid, and some tablets contained it without any fentanyl. The findings highlight how the appearance of an illicit tablet or powder cannot reliably indicate its contents or strength. Prevention, treatment and recovery professionals should reinforce overdose awareness, naloxone access and timely connections to care. Law enforcement, laboratories and public health partners should follow safe handling protocols, test comprehensively and share emerging drug market information quickly.

The clearest message from our recent ISSUP Global webinar was a simple but important one: we should stop assuming that an unregulated drug product contains only what it is sold as containing. That uncertainty now has direct implications for prevention, clinical care, recovery support, toxicology, law enforcement, policy and the administration of justice.