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Suspected Scottish drug deaths up by more than 30 per cent
There were 330 suspect ed drug deaths in Scotland between December 2025 and February this year, according to the latest Public Health Scotland( PHS) figures – 31 per cent up on the previous quarter, and 16 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year. The most recent set of quarterly Police Scotland statistics also showed an estimated increase of 8 per cent( DDN, April, page 4). Scottish Ambulance Service naloxone administration incidents, however, were 10 per cent down on the previous quarter, says the Rapid action drug alerts and response( RADAR) quarterly report. Drug-related attendances at emergency departments were also 6 per cent lower than the previous quarter, while drugrelated hospital admissions overall were down by 21 per cent.
‘ Drug-related harms remained at a high level in the most recent quarter,’ the document states.‘ While some harm indicators have decreased, they remain higher
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES such as trauma, loneliness and isolation are the biggest chemsex-related concerns for LGBTQ + people in London, according to a report from London Friend and LGBT HERO. There are also significant barriers to accessing help, says Examining the drug, alcohol, and chemsex experiences of LGBTQ + people and the healthcare staff supporting them, with 40 per cent of LGBTQ + Londoners having never sought support and half unaware that chemsex-specific services even exist.
The report paints a‘ stark picture of unmet need’, the organisations say, and challenges common assumptions about chemsex. Survey respondents‘ consistently’ linked their drug use to coping with poor mental
Naloxone administration by Scottish Ambulance Service
Between December 2025 and February 2026, there were 827 Scottish Ambulance Service naloxone administration incidents( weekly average 64). The total number of incidents during this time was:
• 10 % lower than the previous quarter( 921; weekly average 71)
• 15 % lower compared to the same period commencing in 2023( 980; weekly average 75)
• 7 % higher than the same period commencing in 2024( 775; weekly average 60)
or similar to the same period in 2024 and there has been a marked increase in suspected drug deaths compared with both the previous quarter and the same period in the previous year.’ Contamination of the drug supply continues to be‘ common and widespread’, it continues, with nitazene-type opioids detected in post mortems at high levels. Earlier this year PHS warned that anyone using street drugs should assume they were contaminated with other substances.
Cocaine was the most commonly reported main drug
health, with chemsex‘ often rooted not just in risk-taking behaviour, but in unmet emotional and psychological needs’, the report says. Shame and stigma, meanwhile, were identified as major barriers to support, with many respondents stating that mainstream drug and alcohol services‘ do not understand LGBTQ + lives’, leaving them feeling excluded and unable to engage.
‘ People we spoke to expressed a need to have access to a wide range of intervention types including harm reduction, out of hours support, and more holistic opportunities to address their substance use issues,’ the document states. The survey of healthcare professionals found‘ a significant number’ of drug treatment staff reporting that in treatment assessments, while the benzodiazepine market‘ continued to shift’, with increasing reports of new substances and changing tablet types. The agency regularly received reports of fake medicines, the report adds, most commonly referring to benzos, gabapentin and pregabalin – these were‘ often seen in legitimate-looking packaging( including boxes and blister packs) but when tested contamination is common’.
Report available at publichealthscotland. scot
Mental health biggest chemsex concern
Chemsex:‘... often rooted not just in risk-taking behaviour, but in unmet emotional and psychological needs.’
they’ d like additional training on chemsex substances. More than 40 per cent said they wanted more training on methamphetamine and GHB / GBL, while almost 50 per cent wanted more mephedrone training.
Report available at londonfriend. org. uk
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MOVING FORWARD Forward had been commissioned by North Northamptonshire Council to deliver a community rehab and establish a LERO.‘ We will be delivering drug and alcohol support services for adults in partnership with Change Grow Live, Family Support Link and Release,’ said head of community services James Parker.
OD PREVENTION A hard-hitting public health campaign has been launched to protect people from accidental overdose. The Gear has Changed is posting harm reduction messages to city centre sites to warn of the unpredictability of drugs. The campaign is informed by the knowledge that many deaths are from drugs adulterated by highstrength substances such as nitazenes, which can prove fatal at very low doses. The campaign is funded by Ethypharm and being supported by harm reduction leads from across the country.
STRONG SUPPORT WithYou is expanding its operations in Redcar and Cleveland with a new centre for adults, young people and families in Grangetown.‘ We want people to know that help is close by, free, and without judgement,’ said head of service delivery Stacey Skilton.
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