Scotland: 1,133 drug deaths in 2024 — new synthetic opioids deepen crisis

Scotland recorded 1,133 drug-related deaths in 2024, up 116 from the previous year — an 11 per cent increase and the sixth highest on record. Some of these deaths are linked to nitazenes — a new class of powerful synthetic opioids — on the illegal drug market. Data was published by National Records of Scotland.