Research and analysis

ACMD advice on 2-benzyl benzimidazole and piperidine benzimidazolone opioids

A review of the evidence on the use and harms of 2-benzyl benzimidazole (nitazene) and piperidine benzimidazolone (brorphine-like) opioids.

Documents

ACMD advice on 2-benzyl benzimidazole and piperidine benzimidazolone opioids

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Cover letter from ACMD with advice on benzyl benzimidazole and piperidine benzimidazolone opioids

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Addendum to ACMD’s report on the use and harms of 2-benzyl benzimidazole (‘nitazene’) and piperidine benzimidazolone (‘brorphine-like’) opioids

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Addendum to ACMD’s report on the use and harms of 2-benzyl benzimidazole (‘nitazene’) and piperidine benzimidazolone (‘brorphine-like’) opioids, 6 October 2023

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Addendum to ACMD's report on the use and harms of 2-benzyl benzimidazole ('nitazenes') and piperidine benzimidazolone ('brorphine-like') opioids, 15 December 2023

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Details

This report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) describes the use and harms of 2-benzyl benzimidazole (nitazene) opioids (including isotonitazene) and piperidine benzimidazolone opioids (including brorphine).

The report contains recommendations on the classification and scheduling of isotonitazene, brorphine and related substances, following a thorough review of the evidence available and using the expertise of the ACMD Novel Psychoactive Substances Committee (NPSC) members.

In December 2022, the ACMD published an addendum to this advice recommending control of a further 2-benzyl benzimidazole, N-desethyl isotonitazene, following detections in drug seizures and review of its potential harms.

The government response to the July 2022 report and December 2022 addendum was published in February 2023.

A second ACMD addendum recommending control of a further 4 newly detected 2-benzyl benzimidazole compounds was published on 6 October 2023.

On 15 December 2023, the ACMD published a third addendum recommending the proposed generic definition be updated to address other structurally related compounds similar to ethyleneoxynitazene that might appear in the future and to align with international approaches.

Published 18 July 2022
Last updated 15 December 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated to include recommendation that the proposed generic definition be updated to address other structurally related compounds similar to ethyleneoxynitazene that might appear in the future.

  2. Government response to the addendum advice of 6 October published.

  3. Updated to include consideration of a further 4 newly detected 2-benzyl benzimidazole (nitazene) opioids.

  4. Added government response to the ACMD’s advice on 2-benzyl benzimidazole and piperidine benzimidazolone opioids.

  5. Updated to include consideration of a new synthetic opioid.

  6. First published.