Nitazenes

A public health alert about nitazene-type opioids was published in January 2023. It was updated in July 2024, due to increasing detections in drugs mis-sold as heroin and diazepam. The legal status section was updated in January 2025 to highlight the introduction of generic nitazene controls under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).

Xylazine

A public health alert about xylazine was published in May 2024, due to increasing detections in drugs mis-sold as heroin. The legal status section was updated in January 2025 to highlight the control of xylazine as a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).

Bromazolam

A public health alert about new benzodiazepines was published in July 2023. Bromazolam is the most common drug detected in ‘street benzos’. The legal status section was updated in January 2025 to highlight the control of new benzodiazepines (including gidazepam and desalkylgidazepam) as class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).