At-a-glance: New psychoactive substances in Canada - 2023

On this page

• Drug Analysis Service
• Summary
• Aim
• New psychoactive substance - definition
• Data limitations
• Data analysis
• New psychoactive substances in Canada in 2023
• First identifications
• New psychoactive substances profile
• Other new substances
• Conclusion
• References
• Suggested citation

Drug Analysis Service

Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service (DAS) operates laboratories across Canada that analyze illicit drugs and substances submitted by Canadian law enforcement and public health officials. DAS data is solely based on samples submitted to the laboratories and as such, samples analyzed by DAS may not be completely representative of drug seizure in Canada, including substances circulating on the market. DAS data should therefore be used with caution when determining trends or drawing conclusions about the type and nature of substances circulating in the illicit market.  The data below represent the number of times a substance was identified in submitted samples. A single sample may contain more than one substance.

To improve awareness of new and emerging drugs in Canada, DAS sends notifications to law enforcement and public health officials whenever a potentially harmful substance or mixture is encountered for the first time in a province or territory or a product is found in a form that may mislead consumers. For more information, please refer to the Drug notification map.

Summary

• The Drug Analysis Service (DAS) identified 11 new psychoactive substances (NPS) in 2023.
• In total, there were 4 opioids, 3 cannabinoids, 2 stimulants, 1 hallucinogen and 1 sedative/hypnotic.
• 7 NPS were identified in samples submitted by law enforcement and public health officials from Ontario, 2 from Quebec, 1 from Alberta and 1 from Newfoundland and Labrador. No first identification of NPS were found in the other provinces and territories.
• In 2023, the opioid Methylfentanyl emerged as the most commonly identified NPS in DAS samples.

Aim

The aim of this report is to describe NPS that emerged in Canada in 2023 based on samples submitted to the DAS by law enforcement and public health officials.

New psychoactive substance - definition

For the purpose of this report, a new psychoactive substance (NPS) is defined as a substance that has the potential to induce psychoactive effects and that has been identified in Canada for the first time in samples submitted to the DAS for analysis by law enforcement and public health officials. These substances may be dangerous compounds. It is important to note that these substances may not be regulated or controlled in Canada and comprehensive information regarding their toxicity may not always be readily accessible, thereby posing potential risks to the Canadian population and more specifically to people who use drugs.

Data limitations

This report is based on data made available by the Drug Analysis Service, which analyzes illicit drugs and substances submitted by Canadian law enforcement  and  public health officials. Some limitations govern the present data. First, law enforcement officials submit samples for laboratory analysis based on investigation needs and orientations. Thus, analyzed samples may not be completely representative of substances circulating on the market as a number of factors may influence substances submitted by Canadian law enforcement officials. Additionally, DAS' mandate is to report substances that are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. As such, it is possible that noncontrolled substance were not reported.

Data Analysis

Results of analyzed samples submitted by  law enforcement  and public health officials are reported in a centralized database called the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The presented data were retrieved from the LIMS and covers the period between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, inclusively. NPS identifications are defined as the identification of a substance in a unique sample.

The analysis of presented data was performed in R4.3.2. Data wrangling and visualization was performed using the tidyverse package^{Footnote 1}.

New psychoactive substances in Canada in 2023

Between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, the Drug Analysis Service identified 11 new psychoactive substances (NPS) in samples submitted by Canadian law enforcement and public health officials, including 4 opioids, 3 cannabinoids, 2 stimulants, 1 hallucinogen and 1 sedative/hypnotic (Table 1).

Of the 11 NPS, 7 of them are controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) (Table 2).

First identifications

New psychoactive substances were identified throughout 2023 (Figure 1).

Figure 1 : Descriptive text

First NPS identification (month) in 2023 by pharmacological class

Month	Pharmacological Class					Total
	Cannabinoids	Hallucinogens	Opioids	Sedatives/Hypnotics	Stimulants
January	-	-	-	-	-	-
February	1	-	-	-	-	1
March	-	-	1	-	-	1
April	-	-	-	1	-	1
May	-	1	1	-	-	2
June	-	-	-	-	-	-
July	-	-	-	-	-	-
August	1	-	1	-	-	2
September	1	-	-	-	-	1
October	-	-	-	-	1	1
November	-	-	-	-	1	1
December	-	-	1	-	-	1

More than half (7) of the 11 NPS were first identified in samples submitted by law enforcement and public health officials in Ontario. Of the remaining 4 NPS, 2 were first identified in samples submitted by law enforcement and public health officials in Quebec, 1 in Alberta and 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador. No NPS were initially identified in the other provinces and territories (Figure 2).

Figure 2 : Descriptive text

Number of the first NPS identifications in 2023 per province and territory

Province/Territory	Pharmacological Class					Total
	Cannabinoids	Hallucinogens	Opioids	Sedatives/Hypnotics	Stimulants
Newfoundland and Labrador	1	-	-	-	-	1
Quebec	-	1	1	-	-	2
Ontario	2	-	2	1	2	7
Alberta	-	-	1	-	-	1

New psychoactive substances profile

Additional details on NPS identified in samples submitted to the DAS for analysis by Canadian law enforcement and public health officials are provided below and in Table 3.

Cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids exhibit effects that are similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of cannabis, but they have the potential to induce more potent effects than THC^Footnote 2.

4-fluoro MDMB-BUTINACA: This synthetic cannabinoid has been associated with fatalities^Footnote 3. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis. It was found in powder form and without any co-occurring substances.

5-Fluoro EDMB-PICA: There is little information available in the literature regarding this synthetic cannabinoid. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis. It was found in powder form and without any co-occurring substances.

AFUBIATA: There is little information available in the literature regarding this synthetic cannabinoid. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis. It was found in powder form and in co-occurrence with Amantadine.

Hallucinogens

1V-LSD: This substances is an analogue of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and likely generates psychedelic effects, resembling those of LSD^Footnote 4. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis. It was found in powder form and without co-occurring substances.

Opioids

Methylfentanyl: Scientific data suggests that this Fentanyl analog is an active opioid agonist^Footnote a with a potency^Footnote b similar or slightly less than that of Fentanyl^Footnote 5. In 2023, although the first identification in a DAS sample was on December 1, Methylfentanyl was identified in 100 samples. DAS identified this substance in powder (97 samples) and crystalline form (3 samples). Multiple co-occurring substances were identified in samples containing Methylfentanyl, including other opioids (Fentanyl, Fentanyl analogues and opiates), stimulants (Cocaine and Methamphetamine) and sedative/hypnotics (benzodiazepines, Medetomidine and Xylazine).

Ethyleneoxynitazene: There is little information available in the literature regarding this nitazene. In 2023, DAS identified this substance in 3 powder form samples and in co-occurrence with caffeine.

N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene: Preliminary scientific data suggests that N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene is an active opioid agonist with approximately 25 times the potency of Fentanyl^Footnote 6. In 2023, N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene was identified in 25 samples and primarily found in powder (21 samples) and tablet forms (4 samples). Only one sample contained co-occurring substances with N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene and it includes Bromazolam, Caffeine, Fentanyl and para-Fluorofentanyl.

N-desethyl Isotonitazene: This substance is a metabolite^Footnote c of Isotonitazene, but started emerging in its own right. Preliminary scientific data suggest that this compound is an active opioid agonist. It demonstrated the highest potency compared to several nitazenes, including Isotonitazene. This substance is also believed to be more potent than Fentanyl^Footnote 7. In 2023, this substance was identified in 69 samples and was found in powder and tablet form. Multiple co-occurring substances were identified in samples containing N-desethyl Isotonitazene, including opioids (Fentanyl, para-Fluorofentanyl and Metonitazene), sedative/hypnotics (benzodiazepines and Xylazine) and dissociatives (Ketamine).

Sedatives/Hypnotics

Metizolam: This benzodiazepine is structurally similar to Etizolam and produces effects comparable to Etizolam, though with roughly half its potency^Footnote 8. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in powder form and with co-occurring substances, including other benzodiazepines (Etizolam and Flualprazolam), Fentanyl and Methamphetamine.

Stimulants

1-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)piperazine: There is little information available in the literature regarding this substance. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis in powder and in co-occurrence with caffeine.

Fluoro Pentedrone: There is little information available in the literature regarding this substance. Fluoro Pentedrone is structurally similar to Pentedrone, a known stimulant^Footnote 9. In 2023, DAS identified this substance only once in samples submitted for analysis in crystalline form, without any co-occurring substances (Table 3).

Other new substances

In 2023, DAS identified 5 other new substances in samples submitted for analysis by Canadian law enforcement and public health officials. Four of these substances are precursors which are used in the synthesis of psychoactive substances and do not produce psychoactive effects. The first of these is 2-Bromo-3',4'-(methylenedioxy)propiophenone which is known to be used in the synthesis of cathinones (stimulants)^Footnote 10. The other 3 precursors, Ethyl 4-anilinopiperidine-1-carboxylate, Fluoro 4-ANPP and N-boc fluoro Norfentanyl are believed to be used in the synthesis of Fentanyl and/or analogues^{Footnote 11Footnote 12}. The fifth newly identified substance, N-propionyl fluoro Norfentanyl, is a byproduct^Footnote d of Fentanyl analogue synthesis,  which means that it is an inactive impurity found in Fentanyl and analogues product^Footnote 13 (Table 4). All five of these substances were found in powder form, with N-propionyl fluoro Norfentanyl also found in residue, crystalline, and tablet form.

Conclusion

This At-A-Glance report describes 11 new psychoactive substances (NPS) and 5 other new substances that were first identified by the DAS in 2023 in samples submitted by law enforcement and public health officials. NPS identified in Canada for 2023 include 4 opioids ( 1 Fentanyl analogue and 3 nitazenes), 3 cannabinoids (synthetic cannabinoids), 2 stimulants (1 arylpiperazine and 1 cathinone), 1 hallucinogen (LSD analog) and 1 sedative/hypnotic (benzodiazepine). More than half of the NPS were identified for the first time in samples submitted by law enforcement and public health officials from Ontario. The other half was identified in the other provinces of Canada. Co-occurring substances with newly identified NPS included Fentanyl and analogues, benzodiazepines, nitazenes and stimulants (Methamphetamine and Cocaine). Continued monitoring of NPS is required to ensure accurate information is available to partners about potentially harmful substances and to identify emerging trends on the Canadian market.

Drug Analysis Service– Health Canada:

• Michèle Boileau-Falardeau
• Caroline Maurice-Gélinas
• Jean-François Chiasson
• Justin Dyck
• Melina Thibault
• Marie-Line Gilbert
• Janike Pitre
• Benoit Archambault

References

Suggested citation

Government of Canada. (2024). Health Canada Drug Analysis Service. At-a-glance: New psychoactive substances in Canada - 2023. Longueuil (QC), 2024. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/new-psychoactive-substances-canada-2023.html .

For more information, please contact Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Health, 2024

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