New powerful synthetic opioid behind sharp rise in Scottish drugs deaths

Eleven per cent increase in fatalities last year partly down to presence of nitazenes in Scotland’s illicit drug market A new type of powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest data 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 figures are the sixth highest on record.

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