The deadly new drugs reshaping Scotland's fight against addiction

Scotland is facing a drug crisis worsened by the emergence of new synthetic substances, including opioids like nitazenes, which are hundreds of times more potent than heroin. In 2024, these substances were implicated in 76 drug-related deaths. Police have conducted operations against clandestine laboratories, resulting in several arrests, as organized crime groups mix these new drugs with existing substances to maximize profits.