New powerful synthetic opioid behind sharp rise in Scottish drugs deaths

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Scotland experienced an 11% increase in drug-related deaths in 2025, partly due to the emergence of powerful synthetic opioids called nitazenes. The National Records of Scotland reported a total of 1,133 fatalities, marking the sixth highest yearly total on record.

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. Continue reading...