New powerful synthetic opioids behind sharp rise in Scottish drugs deaths

Eleven per cent increase in fatalities last year partly down to presence of nitazenes in Scotland’s illicit drug market

New forms of a powerful synthetic opioid have contributed to a sharp rise in Scottish drug deaths, with the latest data showing an 11% increase in fatalities last year

Annual figures released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) on Wednesday recorded 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2025, 116 more than the previous year. The 2025 figures are the sixth highest on record.