VIENNA, Austria – 30 May 2025: Brorphine is a potent synthetic opioid first reported to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS in 2019.[1] Since then, it was increasingly detected in seized drug samples and toxicology casework across at least six different countries in Europe and North America.

After brorphine was internationally controlled in 2022[2], the number of countries reporting the substance decreased from four in 2021 to one in 2023 and 2024. However, since 2024, several brorphine analogues, including 5,6-Dichloro desmethylchlorphine (SR-17018), chlorphine, N-propionitrile chlorphine (Cychlorphine), orphine and R-6890 (Spirochlorphine) have been reported for the first time to UNODC EWA (website Figure 1).

All analogues have been reported in North America. However, the global spread is evident with N-propionitrile chlorphine and R-6890 (Spirochlorphine) having been reported in Europe and North America.[3],[4] Brorphine analogues have been found in powder, rock-like solid and plant material forms....