New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths
An 11% increase in fatalities last year has been partly attributed to the presence of nitazenes in Scotland's illicit drug market.
New forms of a powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest official figures showing an 11% increase in fatalities last year.
Annual figures released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on Wednesday recorded 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2025, 116 more than the previous year. The 2025 total is the sixth highest on record.
Officials linked part of the rise to nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids that can be significantly more potent than heroin, which have increasingly turned up in Scotland's illicit drug supply in recent years.
Scotland has long recorded the highest drug death rate in Europe, and successive governments have faced pressure to address the crisis through harm-reduction measures, treatment services and drug-checking facilities.
The NRS figures are compiled annually from death registrations and are considered the authoritative source on drug-related mortality in Scotland.
Sources
- New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
Related articles
Study finds 'forever chemical' in blood of most residents near former UK factory
Testing near a UK industrial site that used PFOA until 2012 found elevated levels of the chemical in blood samples from nearly 70% of nearby residents.
Health Worker Administers Polio Drops in Anti-Polio Campaign
A photograph from Pakistan's ongoing immunization drive shows a lady health worker vaccinating a child against polio.
NHS to Suspend Staff Suspected of Improperly Accessing Patient Records
The head of NHS England said there have been too many cases of staff abusing patient trust and that the practice must stop.
Over 719,000 children immunized in Rawalpindi as catch-up drive begins
Door-to-door teams administered oral polio drops during the recent anti-polio campaign, health officials said.
$100 Million in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Funds Remain Unspent as Fiscal Year Nears End
With days left in the 2026 fiscal year, lawmakers are pressing the health department to spend money Congress allocated for the program, according to an NPR investigation.
NHS waiting times for ADHD and autism assessments stretch to two years
Nearly a million people in England are on ADHD assessment waiting lists, with NHS boards imposing minimum two-year waits amid a sharp rise in referrals.
Comments
Loading comments…