Decrees on new psychoactive substances supplemented to prohibit more substances

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

13.1.2022 13.35

Press release 10/2022

On 13 January, the Government amended both the decree on narcotic substances, preparations and plants (Narcotics Decree) and the decree on psychoactive substances prohibited on the consumer market. The decrees will enter into force on 14 February 2022.

A total of 27 new substances that are used for intoxicating purposes will be added to the list of psychoactive substances prohibited on the consumer market in Finland. They are not medicines or narcotics and, as far as is known, they do not have any industrial purposes either. In addition, three substances will be removed: CUMYL PEGACLONE, diphenidine and metonitazene, which will be transferred to the Narcotics Decree.

New substances classified as narcotics

The Narcotics Decree will, for the first time, classify bromazolam and metonitazene as narcotics at the national level. Bromazolam is a derivative of benzodiazepine the health risks of which are comparable to those of other benzodiazepines already on the list of narcotics. Metonitazene is a synthetic opioid. New synthetic opioids are extremely dangerous, as they are effective in very small doses, making accurate dosage difficult and overdoses lead to a life-threatening respiratory depression.

In the same context, seven substances are re-classified. MDMB-4 en-PINACA, 3- methoxyphencyclidine, CUMYL-PEGACLONE, diphenidine, clonazolam, diclazepam and flubromazolam have been placed under control in the UN Convention of 1971 and are therefore listed in Appendix II of the Narcotics Decree. These substances have previously been banned as narcotic substances by a decision of the European Union or at national level, or as psychoactive substances prohibited on the national consumer market.

Inquiries:

Elina Kotovirta, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63713, firstname.lastname@gov.fi