Scotland’s Synthetic Drug Crisis: What does this mean for harm reduction?

The rise in new, deadly synthetic cannabinoids and opioids have led to a significant increase in drug related deaths in Scotland and across the UK. These deadly new synthetic drugs pose a serious threat and according to the BBC,

“Unlike heroin or cocaine, which are derived from cultivated plants, many of the new substances are manufactured in clandestine laboratories. They include synthetic opioids such as nitazenes and orphines, some of which are hundreds of times more potent than heroin.” (Cook, 2026)

Recent research reveals that Scotland had the highest drug deaths figures in Europe, with Nitazenes “implicated in 247 deaths in 2025 – more than 22% of the total” (Cook and Stanton, 2026). This figure  had already risen to more than three times as high as the year before and is likely to grow.

We asked Fast Forward’s Chief Officer, Allie Cherry-Byrnes her thoughts on this crisis,

“Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with substances and substance use, continues to be a concern for anyone working with children and young people.  The development of synthetic opioids such as nitazenes and orphines is very concerning as their potency can vary dramatically, in addition to being combined with other substances to maximise profits for organised crime groups.

However, by ensuring that our knowledge is as up to date as possible, we can include new / emerging substances in the early education and prevention sessions we deliver to children and young people.

Fast Forward was established in 1987 in response to the significant heroin culture which existed in Edinburgh at the time. Taking a harm-reduction approach in our work with young people in formal and informal education settings, we provided accurate and up-to-date information to enable young people to make informed choices about substance use. We have delivered weekly sessions to children and young people for nearly 40 years on substance use, other risk-taking behaviours and related harms, remaining ahead of the curve to ensure that our sessions include the most relevant substances, in recent years this has included ketamine, which has seen increased use by Scotland’s young people, with devastating effects.