New psychoactive substances (NPS) represent an important public health concern due to their
rapid emergence on the drug market and their constantly changing chemical composition. Within
the highly heterogeneous group of NPS, synthetic opioids pose a particularly serious threat because
of their high potency, strong pharmacological activity, and substantial risk of respiratory
depression, which significantly increases the likelihood of fatal overdose.
The aim of this master’s thesis was to analyse the prevalence of synthetic opioids within the group
of new psychoactive substances in Europe between 2015 and 2025, with a particular focus on the
situation in Slovenia. Special attention was given to those synthetic opioids that are subject to
intensive monitoring by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) and those for which a formal
risk assessment has been conducted. The data were primarily obtained from the European Database
on New Drugs (EDND II), operating within the EUDA framework.
The results showed that 82 synthetic opioids were monitored in Europe between 2015 and 2025.
Following 2015, the number of newly detected synthetic opioids increased markedly, reaching a
peak in 2017, when 13 new compounds were identified. In recent years, the number of newly
detected substances has remained relatively stable, averaging approximately seven new
compounds per year. The highest number of different synthetic opioids was detected in Germany
(48), followed by Sweden (39) and Slovenia (34). Of the 82 compounds included in the analysis,
38 in Slovenia are listed on the List of Illicit Drugs, while 22 are classified as controlled substances.
A total of 483 reports and 503 different sample types related to synthetic opioids were submitted
to the EDND II database. During the studied period, eight deaths directly associated with the use
of synthetic opioids and six cases involving severe adverse effects were reported in Europe. No
deaths associated with synthetic opioids were reported in Slovenia.
Due to their high potency, rapid spread, and frequently limited toxicological data, synthetic opioids
represent a significant public health risk. The Early Warning System plays a crucial role in the
effective monitoring of synthetic opioids by enabling the rapid identification of hazardous
substances and timely responses in the fields of public health, legislation, and harm reduction.
Continued monitoring of trends in the prevalence of synthetic opioids will be essential for
improving Europe’s preparedness for the rapidly evolving drug market.
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