Current alerts

Nitazenes

A public health alert about nitazene-type opioids was published in January 2023. This alert was further updated in December 2023 to include provisional data on detections of nitazene-type opioids in deaths in Scotland. Based on provisional post-mortem toxicology testing, nitazenes were detected in 38 deaths (from the first detection in June 2022 to 31 December 2023).

Bromazolam

A public health alert about new benzodiazepines was published in July 2023. Bromazolam is the most common drug detected in ‘street benzos’. Bromazolam produces strong sedative and sleep-inducing effects. As a result, there is a substantial risk of overdose.