The deadly new drugs reshaping fight against addiction

Scotland continues to grapple with a severe and growing drug crisis, made increasingly perilous by the influx of numerous powerful synthetic substances. Over the past three years, these new synthetic cannabinoids and opioids have significantly altered the illicit drug market, raising the likelihood of fatal overdoses. The annual report to be published soon is anticipated to reveal yet another rise in Scotland’s drug-related deaths, a country already notorious for having the highest such rate in Europe. Dr Lorna Nisbet, a forensic science expert from Dundee University, emphasized that “The illicit drug supply in Scotland is getting more and more dangerous.”

Many of these emerging substances differ sharply from traditional drugs like heroin and cocaine, which originate from cultivated plants. Instead, synthetic opioids such as nitazenes and orphines are chemically manufactured in secret labs. These compounds can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin, compounding the risk they pose. Law enforcement authorities have reported that organised crime groups are increasingly blending these potent synthetics with other drugs to increase profits. Supt Niven Bull of Police Scotland condemned this practice, stating, “I think it’s shameful behaviour that we’re seeing from these organised crime groups. They are profiting from people’s misery.”

The spread of new psychoactive substances has accelerated dramatically, with an average of one new drug appearing every week in 2025, according to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). Factors such as stricter regulations in China and the Taliban’s strict enforcement against poppy farming in Afghanistan have shifted production nearer to consumer markets like Scotland. Local police have uncovered suspected nitazene labs twice in the last 14 months, resulting in multiple arrests. In one notable case in July 2025, officers raided a facility in Patna, Ayrshire, believed to be the UK’s first nitazene laboratory, and arrested three people. Another investigation led to two men being detained earlier this year in Loanhead, Midlothian.

The deadly impact of these substances is starkly illustrated by 2024 data showing that nitazenes were involved in 76 drug-related deaths in Scotland—more than triple the previous year’s figure. Dr Nisbet’s laboratory at Dundee University — soon to be Scotland’s national drug testing centre — faces significant challenges trying to keep pace with these rapidly evolving drugs. The changes also present a legislative challenge, as authorities race to identify and control new substances designed specifically to evade legal restrictions. The EUDA notes, “New and harmful substances continue to be created to circumvent legal controls.” Meanwhile, police and public health responsibilities in Scotland remain under devolved government control, even as drug regulation sits with Westminster.

Charity workers who operate on the ground are witnessing first-hand the devastating effects of these powerful new opioids. Gareth Balmer, national harm reduction lead at With You, a drug and mental health charity, describes the drug scene as “a frightening new landscape.” Synthetic opioids like nitazenes now appear mixed with everything from street benzodiazepines and synthetic cannabinoids (“spice”) to cocaine and heroin. Balmer highlighted the extreme potency of some substances, noting, “Some of these substances are so potent that a grain would be enough to take somebody over,” underscoring the vital importance of naloxone availability to reverse overdoses.

Police Scotland is pursuing a dual strategy to combat the crisis, focusing both on disrupting suppliers and supporting users. Supt Bull stated that in 2025 alone, officers seized approximately £80 million worth of drugs, with figures for the current year already nearing the same amount. Hundreds of arrests have been made, and many offenders are serving jail time; however, Bull also emphasized the force’s commitment to offering help, explaining, “If we come across people who are suffering from addiction, who are in a low point in their life, then we will look to help support them and we’ll look to refer them to the relevant agency.”

Adding to these efforts is the expanded role of Dundee University’s Leverhulme laboratory, led by Prof Niamh Nic Daeid, which will act as Scotland’s national centre for drug testing and research. The facility’s capabilities will enable near real-time information sharing with drug-using communities, helping them make safer choices and providing data to inform government policies. Prof Nic Daeid emphasized the necessity of understanding the substances present: “If we don’t know what substances are present in the samples, how can we provide the right advice?”

In rural Kintyre, Vicky Gamble, who has faced her own battles with addiction and incarceration, finds solace in nature but remains concerned about the threat posed by emerging synthetic drugs. She observes a widespread use of substances among young people who often do not know what they are ingesting. Reflecting these uncertainties, Gareth Balmer commented, “It’s a terrible thing to say, but with heroin it was better the devil you knew,” highlighting the unpredictable dangers of the new drug environment

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