In Hungary, the threat took the form of small, animal-shaped gummy candies. In June 2024, these sweets, loaded with semi-synthetic cannabinoids, caused severe illness among 30 consumers. Elsewhere in Europe, warnings have been issued in connection with overdoses from cathinones and synthetic opioids, as well as the widespread circulation of highly pure cocaine. Taken together, these incidents have shaped what the annual report from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has described as a "changing drug landscape."

The document, which was published on Thursday, June 5, resembles a "state of the threat" report, similar to those typically produced by investigative agencies. However, in this case, the focus is not on the violent side effects of drug trafficking – now a major political concern – but on the health risks. "In a context (...) of rapidly evolving drug trends, Europe is facing multiple challenges that put its citizens at risk," said Alexis Goosdeel, the agency's executive director. "The rise of extremely potent substances and the increasing complexity of consumption methods are putting serious pressure on health and security systems."

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