Dangerous nitazene drugs linked to rise in deaths

Chief executive of the Scottish Drugs Forum Kirsten Horsburgh described the figures as a huge concern and said Scotland was not prepared for a major influx of nitazene.

“We’re already not managing our current public health emergency in relation to the number of drug related deaths, so this is another potential crisis on top of the one that we already have,” she said.

“What we need to see is a huge increase in harm reduction provision, a roll out of drug consumption rooms across the country and drug checking facilities introduced at pace.”

Drugs and alcohol minister Christina McKelvie said the government had invested £250m into its National Mission on drugs.

This supports those affected by drug use and backs more than 300 projects, as well as delivering a safe drugs consumption facility pilot and drug-checking facilities.

“We’re working hard to respond to the growing threat from super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply,” she said.

“Such synthetics increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death and are being found in a range of substances.”