INTERNATIONAL LEGAL REGULATION OF NEW SYNTHETIC DRUGS

Аннотация

This article explores the international legal mechanisms designed to regulate the production, distribution, and consumption of new synthetic drugs (NSDs), also known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). NSDs present unique regulatory challenges due to their rapid proliferation, structural variability, and evasion of traditional drug control laws. The article analyzes the role of key international treaties such as the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Additionally, it critically evaluates the functioning of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in addressing the NSD crisis. Case studies from the European Union, the United States, and Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, are included to demonstrate the impact of national implementation and the gaps in legal harmonization. Recommendations for treaty reform, enhanced data-sharing, and a flexible legal approach to synthetic drug regulation are presented.