GovWire

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.

Since its publication in July 2022, the ACMD has published 3 addenda recommending control of newly identified 2-benzyl benzimidazole compounds by name, following detections in drug seizures and a review of their potential harms. The proposed generic definition to 2-benzyl benzimidazole variants has also been updated to capture compounds that may appear in future and to align with international approaches. The government has provided a response to the report and subsequent addenda.

On 5 April 2024, the ACMD published a fourth addendum, recommending the proposed generic definition be further updated to capture the suspected newly identified compound methylenedioxynitazene and any structurally related compounds to it that may appear in future.