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Clonazolam now Scotland’ s most common street benzo
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The most common street benzodiazepine in Scotland is now clonazolam, according to Public Health Scotland’ s most recent Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response( RADAR) quarterly report. Detections of a new benzodiazepine, ethylbromazolam, have also continued to increase throughout Scotland, while detections of nitazene-type opioids in drug-related deaths have reached their highest level to date.‘ Contamination of drugs with toxic substances is both common and widespread’ the agency warns, adding that there is‘ an urgent need for accessible drug checking services across the country’.
Almost half of Scottish samples submitted to the WEDINOS drug testing service did not solely contain the intended purchase, while a new depressant – medetomidine – was detected in five samples bought as diazepam. The ACMD recently warned of the need to‘ be vigilant’ and monitor for substances such as xylazine, detomidine and medetomidine that‘ might be used to augment the UK’ s opioid market’, with medetomidine likely to be around 200 times more potent
THE GOVERNMENT HAS LAUNCHED A TEN-WEEK CONSULTATION on making naloxone available in homelessness shelters, hostels, day centres and rough sleeping outreach teams.
The consultation also includes proposals to install publicly accessible emergency boxes for naloxone, similar to defibrillator cabinets. Legislation introduced in 2024 expanded the range of services able to supply take-home naloxone to include police, probation than xylazine.
The majority of drug harms in Scotland continue to involve more than one substance, the RADAR report says, with the average number of controlled substances detected in post-mortem toxicology now five. However, naloxone administration incidents fell by 25 per cent during September to November last year compared to the previous quarter, although they were 22 per cent up on the same period in 2024. Suspected drug deaths were also 18 per cent down on the previous quarter, with emergency department attendances seeing a 12 per cent fall. Cocaine remained the most frequently reported drug across treatment and toxicology data.‘ The changing profile of drugs contributes to a very high likelihood of sudden, localised spikes of severe harms,’ the report states, adding that there were‘ continued signs’ of a changing street benzo market. People would be at‘ increased risk of overdose and death if ethylbromazolam and clonazolam( potent emergent benzodiazepines with strong sedative effects),
officers and paramedics – the new consultation proposes that naloxone also be made available to professionals who could be exposed to synthetic opioids during the course of their work, such as laboratory testing staff and Border Force officials.
The government intends to introduce the new legislation later this year – subject to the consultation responses and Parliamentary approval – via amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. The number of drug-related deaths
establish themselves in the Scottish market’, it adds, with benzodiazepines previously contributing to‘ significantly’ increased drug-related harm and deaths in Scotland. There was now‘ an urgent need for evidencebased benzodiazepine harm reduction and treatment support interventions to be delivered at scale across Scotland’, which should be available for both community and prison settings.
RADAR quarterly report available at https:// publichealthscotland. scot /
Widening access to naloxone www. wedinos. org in England and Wales hit more than 5,500 in 2024, the highest total ever recorded, with deaths involving nitazenes quadrupling within the space of a year.‘ We want to remove the barriers which prevent naloxone reaching the people who need it most at that moment when their life is on the line,’ said health minister Karin Smyth.
Consultation available at https:// consultations. dhsc. gov. uk / expanding-access-tonaloxone-supply-and-emergencyuse until 9 March.
SCOTTISH SUPPORT WithYou has launched a new drug and alcohol service in West Dunbartonshire, an area that recorded Scotland ' s third highest alcohol death rate between 2020 and 2024.‘ Our approach is always nonjudgemental, traumainformed and tailored to each individual ' s needs, circumstances and goals,’ said head of service delivery for Scotland, Tracy Morrice.
TOP BILLING Acorn Recovery Projects psychologist and DDN author Dr Lisa Ogilvie has been ranked number one in the world for‘ addiction recovery’ by the Scopus Researcher Discovery database. Her work has‘ already influenced how Acorn designs and develops support across Lancashire and Greater Manchester’ said Acorn, as well as ensuring that‘ lived experience continues to guide the organisation’ s direction’.
SHARED STRENGTH Forward Trust clients, alumni, staff, volunteers, peer mentors and family members gathered in Hackney last month for the trust’ s annual national reunion, with musical performances, stalls and more. The event was a‘ powerful reminder of the strength that comes from shared experience’ the trust said.
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