WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

This report presents the recommendations of a WHO Expert Committee responsible for reviewing information on psychoactive substances to assess the need for their international control.

The report contains a summary of the Committee's evaluations of y-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and ketamine. GHB was recommended to be rescheduled from Schedule IV to Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

The report also discusses the nine substances that were prereviewed: dextromethorphan, tapentadol, N-benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP), 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) piperazine (MeOPP), 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)piperazine (MDBP), y-butyrolactone (GBL), and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD). Of these, tapentadol, BZP, GBL and 1,4-BD were recommended for critical review. Issues identified for consideration at future Expert Committee meetings are also listed.

Furthermore, the report discusses the use of terms, the use of pharmacovigilance data for the assessment of abuse and dependence potential, balancing medical availability and prevention of abuse of medicines manufactured from controlled substances, and improving the process for substance evaluation.