This week on Century of Lies: The Next Big Thing. Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioids, some of which are stronger than fentanyl, which are starting to show up in the unregulated drug markets in the US and the EU. On February 22, Ireland’s Health Service Executive held a webinar to look at the issue, entitled Safeguarding Communities Against Nitazenes. On this edition of Century we hear from Nicki Killeen, Project Manager for Emerging Drug Trends with the HSE National Social Inclusion Office, and Rachel Christie, Principal Scientific Analyst in the Action on New Drugs Sector of the European Monitoring Center on Drugs and Drug Addiction.

This week on Century of Lies: A Citizens’ Assembly On Drugs Use. The government of the Republic of Ireland has established a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use to “consider the legislative, policy and operational changes Ireland could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider Irish society.” The Assembly is holding a series of meetings at which members are being briefed by several experts from Ireland and other EU nations. On this edition of Century we hear portions of the Assembly’s June 24 meeting including presentations from Nicki Killeen, Project Manager for Emerging Drug Trends at the National Social Inclusion Office of the Republic of Ireland’s Health Service Executive, and Doctor Nuno Capaz, Director of the Portuguese Dissuasion Commission in Lisbon.