Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report
January 2023
A Management Information Statistics publication for Scotland
- Published
- 24 January 2023
- Type
- Statistical report
- Author
- Public Health Scotland
Trends
Police Scotland drug trends bulletin
This bulletin contains photos of drugs.
This update provides information on street benzos (benzodiazepines) and nitazenes mis-sold as oxycodone.
This information has been provided by Police Scotland’s STOP Unit to raise awareness of drug appearance and to demonstrate some of the substances present in Scotland’s drugs market.
Street benzos
'Street benzos' is a term used to describe benzodiazepines that are unlicensed or illicitly produced.
Most common benzodiazepines
- Etizolam is the most common active ingredient used to produce these tablets, but an increasing number of new benzodiazepine types and forms continue to appear.
- White ‘10’ with a half score on the reverse is still the most commonly recovered illicitly produced street benzodiazepine tablet.
- Light blue ‘D/10’ with a half score on the reverse is the second most commonly recovered street benzodiazepine tablet.
Flubromazepam
Flubromazepam is a Class C drug. Some recent recoveries of note are the following tablets:
- A white tablet with what appears to be a back to front ‘10’, with a half score on the reverse, containing flubromazepam.
- A light blue tablet ‘V10’ with a half score on the reverse, containing flubromazepam.
Bromazolam
There has been a recent increase in the number of bromazolam recoveries across Scotland. Bromazolam is a Class C drug.
According to recent information shared by the Scottish Prison Service, bromazolam has been detected in prisons in tablet and powder form. Reports suggest a link between the use of powder (suspected to be bromazolam) and serious and adverse health effects. The intelligence indicates that it is being obtained in pure powder form and consumed per ‘grain’.
A bulletin issued by Northumbria Police in June 2022 shows bromazolam was detected within ‘benzo bear’ jelly sweets, but no such recoveries have been found in Scotland at this time.
Visit NHS inform for more information on benzodiazepines.
Oxycodone/nitazene tablets
A recovery in Aberdeen found a quantity of tablets bearing oxycodone markings that contained N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, a highly potent opioid.
Oxycodone is available on prescription in the UK and is a Class A controlled drug within the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is not yet classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but recommendations have been made to the Home Office that this drug and other similar synthetic opioids should be classified as Class A in the future.
For more information on this recovery, see the Police Scotland interim drug bulletin (10 November 2022).
For more information on nitazenes, see the nitazene-type drugs in Scotland RADAR alert.
Additional information
This information is provided to PHS by Police Scotland.
Reports of drug harms to RADAR
18 reports were validated by RADAR between 24 September 2022 and 11 January 2023.
A summary of validated reports is shown below for informational purposes.
These were received through our online reporting form and mailbox.
These reports have been collected as part of intelligence gathering.
PHS recommends the widespread use of the following harm reduction messages and interventions across Scotland.
Be cautious
Drugs in circulation can vary widely
- The drug purchased may not always be the drug that it’s expected to be.
- It may contain adulterants, be mis-sold or contain a different amount than anticipated.
Test before use
- Drug contents cannot be confirmed by the way it looks, smells or tastes.
- People in Scotland can get their drugs tested by using the free, anonymous postal service provided by WEDINOS.
Mixing drugs is dangerous and should be avoided
- Mixing drugs increases the risk of drug harms and death – this includes mixing alcohol with other drugs.
- Those taking medicines should research any potential interactions between their medicines and the drugs they are taking.
- The risk of overdose is also increased if someone takes drugs alone, takes drugs after a break, takes higher purity drugs than expected or injects drugs.
Get help in an emergency
- If someone needs medical help, call 999, ask for an ambulance and stay with the person until help arrives.
- If the person is non-responsive and displaying the signs of an overdose (unconsciousness, shallow breathing, snoring, blue lips, pale skin, pin-point pupils), administer naloxone.
Be informed
General drug information
Harm reduction information
Technical or scientific information
East Scotland
Report 1
- Local authority
City of Edinburgh
- Reason for report
New trend
- Drug
Mephedrone
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Reports of heroin and cocaine suspected to be cut with mephedrone ('magic') causing adverse effects including heart palpitations.
Report 4
- Local authority
City of Edinburgh
- Reason for report
New trend, adverse effects
- Drug
Pregabalin
- Appearance
Red and white capsule with '300' or signature written on it
- Summary
Drug sold as pregabalin (suspected to be fake) causing adverse effects
Report 6
- Local authority
City of Edinburgh
- Reason for report
Adverse effects, new trend
- Drug
Valium
- Appearance
White tablets, 'KB10' on one side
- Summary
Bough as Valium and described as a cheaper and stronger alternative to 'ROCHE 10' tablets. Adverse effects include feeling unwell.
Report 8
- Local authority
West Lothian
- Reason for report
Adverse effects
- Drug
Cocaine
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Report of three separate incidents involving different patients across a similar time period. All experienced side effects after snorting cocaine powder. Two patients reported the use of alcohol. Adverse effects include: chest pain, confusion, elevated pulse, hand cramping, hyperthermia, nausea/vomiting, respiratory arrest and seizures.
Report 10
- Local authority
Fife
- Reason for report
Adverse effects
- Drug
Ketamine
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Serious, unexpected adverse effects including amnesia and seizures.
Report 11
- Local authority
Fife
- Reason for report
New drug
- Drug
Combination
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Client’s report taking ‘double cap boosters’ to enhance the effect of street valium. Reports suggest benzos are taken alongside two prescription-only medicines, one anticonvulsant medication used in the treatment of epilepsy, and one antispasmodic medication used as a muscle relaxer.
Report 14
- Local authority
City of Edinburgh
- Reason for report
Adverse effects
- Drug
Cocaine
- Appearance
Yellow crystal
- Summary
Reports crack cocaine is suspected to be cut with mephedrone causing adverse effects including coughing up blood.
Report 15
- Local authority
Scottish Borders
- Reason for report
New drug
- Drug
Bromazolam
- Appearance
Tablet
- Summary
Bromazolam detected by WEDINOS in drug sold as diazepam.
Report 17
- Local authority
Fife
- Reason for report
New drug
- Drug
Bromazolam
- Appearance
Tablet
- Summary
Four samples were sent to WEDINOS, all sold as diazepam. The two white tablets contained etizolam, the two blue tablets contained bromazolam.
West Scotland
Report 13
- Local authority
North Lanarkshire
- Reason for report
New trend
- Drug
Methamphetamine
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Three separate reports from services about the recent use of methamphetamine by clients.
Report 16
- Local authority
North Lanarkshire
- Reasons for report
Adverse effects
- Drug
Cocaine
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Report of three patients, with no known links, admitted to hospital in one weekend after taking cocaine. One patient reported polydrug use. One patient had a cardiac arrest, two had seizures.
Report 18
- Local authority
NHS Lanarkshire (North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire)
- Reason for report
Adverse effects
- Drug
Cocaine
- Appearance
Unknown
- Summary
Increase in patients presenting to ear, nose and throat doctors with severe nose damage due to cocaine use. The cocaine causes severe inflammation and often leads to the wall between the nostrils collapsing. Other adverse effects include pain, malaise and fatigue. This effect seems to be worse in patients who also test positive for levamisole (cutting agent).
North Scotland
Report 2
- Local authority
Aberdeen City
- Reason for report
Adverse effects, withdrawal
- Drug
Temazepam
- Appearance
White tablets
- Summary
Service supporting patient withdrawing from 40 mg daily dose of temazepam after their prescription became unavailable due to shortages. Adverse effects from cessation of temazepam included anxiety/panic, confusion, decreased energy, depression/low mood, hallucinations, nausea/vomiting and suicidal thoughts/ideation.
Report 3
- Local authority
Aberdeenshire
- Reason for report
Concern - increased availability and use
- Drug
Mephedrone
- Appearance
Cream/white crystal
- Summary
Increase in the use of mephedrone (mcat) amongst young people. Reports of exploitation of young people with sales pushed by dealers and on social media for £25 per bag. Effects include anxiety/panic and increased energy. Presence of mephedrone confirmed by police testing, WEDINOS and testing kits.
Report 5
- Local authority
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City
- Reason for report
Adverse effects, overdose
- Drug
Valium
- Appearance
White tablet, '10' on one side
- Summary
Overdose (unconsciousness) after taking crack cocaine, methadone and a drug sold as Valium (bought from a dealer for £1 per pill). Hospital toxicology screen was negative for benzodiazepines.
Report 7
- Local authority
NHS Grampian (Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray)
- Reason for report
Alert
- Drug
Promethazine
- Appearance
Syrup
- Summary
Alert after a recent increase in requests for promethazine (antihistamine) in Grampian community pharmacies, suspected to be related to the manufacture of lean. Lean is the name of a syrup/liquid taken for psychoactive effects, made by combining codeine (opioid), antihistamines and sweet/fizzy drinks.
Report 9
- Local authority
Aberdeenshire
- Reason for report
New trend
- Drug
Bromazolam
- Appearance
Blue bar
- Summary
Bromazolam detected by WEDINOS in drug sold as Xanax, purchased from dealer for £1 per bar. Adverse effects include amnesia and decreased energy. Taken alongside crack cocaine, other benzodiazepines, methadone and image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs).
Report 12
- Local authority
Aberdeen City
- Reason for report
Alert, new drug
- Drug
N-pyrrolidino etonitazene
- Appearance
Blue tablets, 'M' on one side, half score and '30' on the other
- Summary
A recent recovery of a quantity of tablets bearing oxycodone markings were found in the Aberdeen area and on examination, found to contain N-pyrrolidino etonitazene.
Reporting drug harms
Share information on trends, incidents and harms related to drugs, such as:
- adverse effects
- routes of administration
- testing data
Make a report by using our reporting form or by emailing phs.drugsradar@phs.scot