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The Star
26-05-2025
- The Star
Alarming rise in synthetic cannabis use among youth
NEW psychoactive substances now make up 35% of all drug analysis requests, with a sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers – often in e-cigarette form – and increasing cases of polysubstance use among people in their 20s and 30s, according to a report from the South Korean state-run National Forensic Service (NFS). According to the S, 34.9% of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic, a significant increase in five years since 2019, when 9.7% were synthetic. 'New psychoactive substances' refer to newly synthesised substances designed to mimic the effects of banned drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and LSD, with slight chemical modifications to avoid detection or classification under existing drug laws. According to the S, the new psychoactive drug substances in South Korea that were most found in 2024 include synthetic cannabis and synthetic analogues of ketamine, making up 15.2% and 10.1%, respectively, of the overall numbers, and more than two-thirds of the seized synthetic drugs. For synthetic cannabis, the S added that 3,868 out of the total of 5,650 confiscated items were in liquid form, with 1,262 found inside e-cigarette cartridges and 2,606 holding similarity to e-liquids that fill such cartridges. 'Due to an increase of synthetic cannabis being distributed to look no different from e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, it has gotten especially difficult to identify them as drugs,' the S stated in its press release on May 25. Other than the new psychoactive drugs, the S added that other prohibited drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana were also among the most discovered. In 2024, 47.7% of drugs confiscated by the S were methamphetamine, while marijuana made up 12.1% of the confiscated drugs. Methamphetamine use showed relatively even distribution across different age groups. The highest number of users were found among those in their 30s at 5,754 cases, followed by those in their 20s at 5,550 cases. The S also uncovered 213 cases involving teenagers. In 2024, the S added that the total number of drug analysis cases submitted to the service amounted to 120,703, a threefold increase compared to its numbers from 2018, which were some 43,000 cases at the time. The S added that drug-related crackdowns in 2024 were 'focused more on drug distributors than drug abusers'. This is evidenced by a 12% increase in analyses done on seized items by the S, contrasted with 17% and 15% decreases in urine and hair follicle tests, respectively, conducted on suspected drug users. — The Korea Herald/ANN
The Star
26-05-2025
- The Star
South Korea sees sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers
SEOUL: New psychoactive substances now make up 35 per cent of all drug analysis requests, with a sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers — often in e-cigarette form — and increasing cases of polysubstance use among people in their 20s and 30s, according to a report from the South Korean state-run National Forensic Service (NFS). According to the NFS, 34.9 per cent of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic, a significant increase in five years since 2019, when 9.7 per cent were synthetic. 'New psychoactive substances' refer to newly synthesised substances designed to mimic the effects of banned drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and LSD, with slight chemical modifications to avoid detection or classification under existing drug laws. According to the NFS, the new psychoactive drug substances in South Korea that were most found in 2024 include synthetic cannabis and synthetic analogs of ketamine, making up 15.2 per cent and 10.1 per cent, respectively, of the overall numbers, and more than two-thirds of the seized synthetic drugs. For synthetic cannabis, the NFS added that 3,868 out of the total of 5,650 confiscated items were in liquid form, with 1,262 found inside e-cigarette cartridges and 2,606 holding similarity to e-liquids that fill such cartridges. 'Due to an increase of synthetic cannabis being distributed to look no different to e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, it has gotten especially difficult to identify them as drugs,' the NFS stated in its press release on May 25. Other than the new psychoactive drugs, the NFS added that other prohibited drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana were also among the most discovered. In 2024, 47.7 per cent of drugs confiscated by the NFS were methamphetamine, while marijuana made up 12.1 per cent of the confiscated drugs. Methamphetamine use showed relatively even distribution across different age groups. The highest number of users were found among those in their 30s at 5,754 cases, followed by those in their 20s at 5,550 cases. The NFS also uncovered 213 cases involving teenagers. In 2024, the NFS added that the total number of drug analysis cases submitted to the service amounted to 120,703, a threefold increase compared to its numbers from 2018, which were some 43,000 cases at the time. The NFS added that drug-related crackdowns were 'focused more on drug distributors than drug abusers' in 2024, as there was a 12 per cent increase in analyses done on items seized by the NFS, while there were 17 per cent and 15 per cent decreases in urine tests and hair follicle tests, respectively, conducted on suspected drug users. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Straits Times
South Korea sees sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers
In South Korea, 34.9 per cent of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic. PHOTO: REUTERS SEOUL - New psychoactive substances now make up 35 per cent of all drug analysis requests, with a sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers — often in e-cigarette form — and increasing cases of polysubstance use among people in their 20s and 30s, according to a report from the South Korean state-run National Forensic Service (NFS). According to the NFS, 34.9 per cent of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic, a significant increase in five years since 2019, when 9.7 per cent were synthetic. 'New psychoactive substances' refer to newly synthesized substances designed to mimic the effects of banned drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and LSD, with slight chemical modifications to avoid detection or classification under existing drug laws. According to the NFS, the new psychoactive drug substances in South Korea that were most found in 2024 include synthetic cannabis and synthetic analogs of ketamine, making up 15.2 per cent and 10.1 per cent, respectively, of the overall numbers, and more than two-thirds of the seized synthetic drugs. For synthetic cannabis, the NFS added that 3,868 out of the total of 5,650 confiscated items were in liquid form, with 1,262 found inside e-cigarette cartridges and 2,606 holding similarity to e-liquids that fill such cartridges. 'Due to an increase of synthetic cannabis being distributed to look no different to e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, it has gotten especially difficult to identify them as drugs,' the NFS stated in its press release on May 25. Other than the new psychoactive drugs, the NFS added that other prohibited drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana were also among the most discovered. In 2024, 47.7 per cent of drugs confiscated by the NFS were methamphetamine, while marijuana made up 12.1 per cent of the confiscated drugs. Methamphetamine use showed relatively even distribution across different age groups. The highest number of users were found among those in their 30s at 5,754 cases, followed by those in their 20s at 5,550 cases. The NFS also uncovered 213 cases involving teenagers. In 2024, the NFS added that the total number of drug analysis cases submitted to the service amounted to 120,703, a threefold increase compared to its numbers from 2018, which were some 43,000 cases at the time. The NFS added that drug-related crackdowns were 'focused more on drug distributors than drug abusers' in 2024, as there was a 12 per cent increase in analyses done on items seized by the NFS, while there were 17 per cent and 15 per cent decreases in urine tests and hair follicle tests, respectively, conducted on suspected drug users. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
25-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Synthetic narcotics account for 35% of forensic cases: NFS
New psychoactive substances now make up 35 percent of all drug analysis requests, with a sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers — often in e-cigarette form — and increasing cases of polysubstance use among people in their 20s and 30s, according to a report from the state-run National Forensic Service. According to the NFS, 34.9 percent of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic, a significant increase in five years since 2019, when 9.7 percent were synthetic. "New psychoactive substances" refer to newly synthesized substances designed to mimic the effects of banned drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and LSD, with slight chemical modifications to avoid detection or classification under existing drug laws. According to the NFS, the new psychoactive drug substances in South Korea that were most found in 2024 include synthetic cannabis and synthetic analogs of ketamine, making up 15.2 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively, of the overall numbers, and more than two-thirds of the seized synthetic drugs. For synthetic cannabis, the NFS added that 3,868 out of the total of 5,650 confiscated items were in liquid form, with 1,262 found inside e-cigarette cartridges and 2,606 holding similarity to e-liquids that fill such cartridges. 'Due to an increase of synthetic cannabis being distributed to look no different to e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, it has gotten especially difficult to identify them as drugs,' the NFS stated in its press release Sunday. Other than the new psychoactive drugs, the NFS added that other prohibited drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana were also among the most discovered. In 2024, 47.7 percent of drugs confiscated by the NFS were methamphetamine, while marijuana made up 12.1 percent of the confiscated drugs. Methamphetamine use showed relatively even distribution across different age groups. The highest number of users were found among those in their 30s at 5,754 cases, followed by those in their 20s at 5,550 cases. The NFS also uncovered 213 cases involving teenagers. In 2024, the NFS added that the total number of drug analysis cases submitted to the service last year amounted to 120,703, a threefold increase compared to its numbers from 2018, which were some 43,000 cases at the time. The NFS added that drug-related crackdowns were 'focused more on drug distributors than drug abusers' in 2024, as there was a 12 percent increase in analyses done on items seized by the NFS, while there were 17 percent and 15 percent decreases in urine tests and hair follicle tests, respectively, conducted on suspected drug users.
Korea Herald
25-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Synthetic narcotics hit 35% of forensic cases as teen vaping surges: report
New psychoactive substances now make up 35 percent of all drug analysis requests, with a sharp rise in synthetic cannabis use among teenagers — often in e-cigarette form — and increasing cases of polysubstance use among people in their 20s and 30s, according to a report by the state-run National Forensic Service. According to the NFS, 34.9 percent of illegal drugs identified in confiscated items in 2024 were synthetic drugs, a significant increase compared to the same numbers in 2019, which were 9.7 percent at the time. "New psychoactive substances" refers to newly synthesized substances designed to mimic the effects of banned drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and LSD, with slight chemical modifications to avoid detection or classification under existing drug laws. According to the NFS, the new psychoactive drug substances in South Korea that were most found in 2024 include synthetic cannabis and synthetic analogs of ketamine, making up 15.2 percent and 10.1 percent of the total 34.9 percent, respectively. For synthetic cannabis, the NFS added that 3,868 items out of the total of 5,650 confiscated drugs were found in liquid form, with 1,262 found inside e-cigarette cartridges and 2,606 holding similarity to e-liquids which fill such cartridges. 'Due to an increase of synthetic cannabis being distributed to look no different to e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, it has gotten especially difficult to identify them as drugs,' the NFS stated in its press release, Sunday. Other than the new psychoactive drugs, the NFS added that other prohibited drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana were also discovered the most. In 2024, 47.7 percent of drugs confiscated by the NFS were methamphetamine, while marijuana made up 12.1 percent of the confiscated drugs. Methamphetamine use showed relatively even distribution across different age groups. The highest number of users were found among those in their 30s at 5,754 cases, followed by those in their 20s at 5,550 cases. The NFS also uncovered 213 cases involving teenagers. In 2024, the NFS added that the total number of drug analysis cases submitted to the service last year added up to 120,703, a threefold increase compared to its numbers from 2018, which had added up to around 43,000 cases at the time. The NFS added that the drug-related crackdowns were 'focused more on drug distributors than drug abusers' in 2024, as there was a 12 percent increase in analyses done on items seized by the NFS, while there was a 17 percent and 15 percent decrease respectively of drug tests such as urine tests and hair follicle tests conducted on suspected drug users.
