Nitazenes drive 11% rise in Scottish drug deaths to 1,133 in 2025

Scotland recorded 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2025, an 11% increase from the prior year, with the emergence of nitazenes—potent synthetic opioids—in the illicit market cited as a key factor. The figures mark the sixth highest on record, indicating a persistent public-health crisis. The presence of nitazenes, which are far more potent than heroin, raises overdose risks and complicates harm-reduction efforts.