Scottish Drugs Forum has worked with service providers and other stakeholders to develop information resources for people at risk of overdose due to the introduction of synthetic opioids, including nitazenes into the drug supply.

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 post-mortem toxicology testing, nitazenes were detected in 25 deaths (to 30 September 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.