Highlighting U.S. and Global Efforts to Address the Health and Security Threats of Synthetic Drugs Through Global Cooperation

U.S. Efforts to Address Synthetic Drug Threats 

• On July 7, Secretary Blinken hosted a Ministerial to launch the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, during which nearly 100 countries and international organizations committed to accelerated action on synthetic drugs.
• On September 1, the United States launched the Coalition’s three working groups with nearly 900 participants from more than 100 countries and international organizations. Participants committed to form seven sub-working groups in October in which experts will work together to identify concrete actions and outcomes to address synthetic drug threats: Manufacturing and of Synthetic Drugs and Their Precursors; Trafficking of Synthetic Drugs and their Precursors; Data Collection, Analysis, and Trends Including Early Warning;  Information Sharing, Interagency Collaboration, and Policy Formulation; Preventing Drug Use; Engaging People with Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders; and Addressing Populations in Contact with the Criminal Justice System, including Alternatives to Incarceration.
• This year, the U.S. Department of State is providing more than $100 million to build the capacity of partners across the world to detect, identify, and interdict synthetic drugs and to provide vital treatment and prevention services.
• The United States is a top donor to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) programs, including the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs and INCB information-sharing tools.  These programs help implement comprehensive responses to counter the synthetic drug problem and facilitate real time information sharing for law enforcement officials on precursors and dangerous substances.
• Secretary Blinken announced that the Department intends to establish a senior level position to work with other countries to intensify our joint efforts to address synthetic drugs around the world.

Global Efforts to Address Synthetic Drug Threats

• In 2022, at the request of the United States, UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) Member States voted unanimously to control precursors used to illicitly manufacture fentanyl and its analogues, making it more difficult for drug traffickers to obtain and use these chemicals for illicit purposes.
• In 2023, the CND adopted by consensus a U.S.-sponsored resolution focused on information sharing related to international drug scheduling requests and their subsequent implementation within national frameworks.  In December, the United States will introduce a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Plenary to intensify domestic, regional, and international action to address synthetic drug threats.