A Drug More Dangerous Than Heroin Hits the Streets: Synthetic Opioids Transform Scotland's Addiction Crisis

2026年09月20日
A Drug More Dangerous Than Heroin Hits the Streets: Synthetic Opioids Transform Scotland's Addiction Crisis

In Scotland, the "common sense of yesterday" regarding drugs is becoming obsolete.

The dangers of illegal drugs were once primarily discussed in terms of what and how much was used. However, there is now a growing possibility that the drugs a person thinks they are buying do not match the substances that actually enter their body. This is because extremely potent synthetic opioids can be mixed into powders thought to be heroin, pills that look like painkillers or anti-anxiety medications, and even cocaine or synthetic cannabinoids.

The BBC's report is not merely about the increase in "dangerous new drugs." It highlights a structural change in the illegal drug market itself, shifting from traditional supply chains based on cultivated plants to a market centered on synthetic substances that can be easily manufactured in small facilities and evade regulation by slightly altering their chemical structure.


Reasons for Concern Despite a Decrease in Deaths in 2024

According to the National Records of Scotland, there were 1,017 drug-related deaths in 2024. This was a decrease of 155 people, or 13%, from the previous year, marking the lowest level since 2017. At first glance, this seems like a sign of improvement.

However, a new warning is hidden in the details. Opioids were involved in 80% of the deaths, and multiple drugs were involved in 80% of the cases. Deaths involving nitazene-type synthetic opioids reached 76, more than triple the previous year. While caution is needed when making simple comparisons with the year before testing systems were in place, it is undeniable that their presence is rapidly increasing.

Furthermore, drug-related deaths are not occurring evenly across society. In 2024, residents in the most deprived areas were 12 times more likely to die from drug abuse than those in the wealthiest areas. The average age of death has also risen from 32 in 2000 to 45 in 2024. This is not just an issue of temporary abuse among young people but also a problem affecting middle-aged individuals facing poverty, isolation, mental and physical health issues, and long-term dependency.

The BBC reports that the annual statistics for 2025 are expected to show an increase, but these figures are not confirmed before publication. The important point is that even if the total number of deaths decreases once, it does not necessarily mean that the danger level of the drug market has decreased.


Nitazenes Are Not "Strong Heroin"

Nitazenes are a group of synthetic opioids with a benzimidazole structure. Originally researched as potential painkillers in the mid-20th century, they were never approved as human or veterinary medicines. The current issue arises because some derivatives are significantly stronger than heroin.

It is not a single substance called "nitazene" that is spreading. There are multiple analogs like metonitazene, protonitazene, and isotonitazene, each varying in potency and ease of detection. Additionally, a new group of synthetic opioids known as the orphine series has been identified in recent years.

The European Drugs Agency reported that 50 new psychoactive substances were reported in Europe for the first time in 2025, at a pace of nearly one per week. By the end of 2025, the agency was monitoring 1,050 new psychoactive substances. Of the seven newly reported synthetic opioids, six were very potent substances from the nitazene or orphine series.

Even if regulators specify one substance, another with a slightly altered molecular structure can emerge. Distribution begins before toxicological data or standard samples are sufficient, and testing methods and legal regulations lag behind. This situation is akin to police and scientists continuously chasing vulnerabilities in rapidly updating software.


The Real Danger Lies in "Not Choosing"

Even with powerful drugs, if users can accurately understand their presence and concentration, there is room to reduce risk. The synthetic opioid crisis is particularly dangerous because this premise has collapsed.

Nitazenes have been detected not only as heroin adulterants but also in counterfeit pills resembling legitimate oxycodone, diazepam, and alprazolam. In Europe in 2024, over 50,000 nitazene-containing pills were identified across 10 countries, a sharp increase from 380 pills in 2022 and 23,000 in 2023.

If a product resembles a pharmaceutical, buyers are more likely to mistakenly believe it has undergone some quality control. The danger extends not only to habitual illegal drug users but also to those self-medicating for chronic pain, insomnia, or anxiety, and to young people without opioid tolerance.

Moreover, even pills that look the same or powders in the same bag do not necessarily have uniform concentrations. If manufacturing equipment lacks precision, even a slight deviation can result in a fatal difference. For users, "the same amount as last time" is not a reliable safety measure, and even sellers may not accurately know the composition of the end products.


Why Synthetic Drugs Are Spreading Now

There are multiple factors behind this.

One is the change in supply chains. The ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan that began in 2022 significantly reduced opium production. However, the European Drugs Agency is uncertain about the extent of its impact on Europe's heroin supply. Nevertheless, there is a strong concern that synthetic opioids, which are cheap, highly concentrated, and easy to transport in small quantities, will be used as substitutes in anticipation of future supply shortages.

Another factor is the "balloon effect" of regulation. When a country comprehensively regulates a specific synthetic substance, manufacturing bases may shift to regions closer to consumption areas, or the substance may be replaced with another type. After China comprehensively regulated nitazenes in July 2025, there is concern that the orphine series, a different type, may fill the gap in Europe.

According to the BBC, in the past 14 months, two facilities suspected of manufacturing nitazenes were raided in Scotland, and five people were arrested. With the right materials and technology, synthetic drugs that do not rely on remote farms for supply can be produced near consumer markets. The era is coming when seizures at borders alone are not enough to prevent them.


Debate on Social Media: "Personal Responsibility" or "Medical Issue"?

On UK social media and forums, several typical reactions can be seen regarding the issue of counterfeit drugs containing nitazenes. These are not randomly sampled public opinions but rather trends observed in public posts.

 

One prominent question is, "Why would sellers mix substances that could kill their customers?" In response, some posts point out that it is because a small amount can produce a strong effect, reducing costs, and that low precision in mixing or manufacturing can unintentionally cause concentration differences. The view is that the goal is not to cause deaths, but uncontrollable dangers arise as a result of prioritizing profit.

Next, there is a clash between the reaction of "it's the buyer's responsibility for purchasing illegal drugs" and the reaction that "addiction is also an issue of healthcare, welfare, and poverty." Regarding those who buy counterfeit drugs online, some voices assume it is for pleasure, while others point out that people turn to self-medication due to long waits for medical appointments or inadequate treatment.

Furthermore, there is a caution against conflating regulated online pharmacies with illegal sales sites. If all online purchases are viewed as dangerous, the fundamental issue of improving access to legitimate healthcare can be overlooked.

While the debate is polarized, there is a common anxiety: the fear that "you can't tell if it's real or fake just by looking." Traditional awareness campaigns encouraged avoiding dangerous drugs. What is needed now, in addition to that, is widely informing people of the reality that "the name or appearance of what you bought does not guarantee its contents."


Enforcement and Saving Lives Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Police crackdowns on supply networks are necessary. The Scottish police seized drugs worth approximately £80 million at street value in 2025, and by the time of the BBC's coverage in 2026, it had already reached about £78 million. However, an increase in seizure amounts alone cannot determine that the market has shrunk. It could be that seizures have increased as a result of increased distribution.

Equally essential is the dissemination of naloxone, which temporarily reverses respiratory depression caused by overdose. It is effective against nitazene-type substances, but with extremely potent substances, multiple doses or additional life-saving measures may be required. Since breathing may weaken again even after consciousness returns post-administration, emergency calls and monitoring are crucial.

Drug checking also becomes important. If components can be quickly tested and dangerous batches or regional trends shared within days, or ideally hours, users, support groups, emergency services, police, and medical institutions can all have the same information. The research facility at the University of Dundee aims to provide "near real-time" information, which is not just an analysis service but an early warning system.

The idea that prohibition alone will end the issue cannot keep up with a market where new molecules continuously appear. On the other hand, harm reduction alone cannot ignore the crimes of the supply side. It is necessary to simultaneously move forward with the crackdown on manufacturing and sales organizations, comprehensive legal regulations, rapid testing, naloxone, addiction treatment, and support for housing and income.


It's Not a Distant Issue for Japan

Japan has not experienced an opioid death crisis on the same scale as Scotland. However, it is dangerous to dismiss it as a "foreign issue." Counterfeit pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs cross borders online, and new substances with altered chemical structures exploit gaps in regulation and testing.

Particularly noteworthy is the group purchasing products with a pharmaceutical-like appearance from social media or personal import sites. There is a risk of encountering unknown synthetic opioids without realizing they are using illegal drugs. Beyond border measures, it is crucial to have a system for quickly sharing detection information among medical institutions, emergency services, forensic science, customs, and police.

The lesson from Scotland is clear. The danger is not just in not knowing the names of new drugs. It is in society's response speed being outpaced by the rate of change in the drug market.

Statistics on the number of deaths are a slow signal that arrives after a crisis has occurred. Quickly knowing the contents of the powder or pills in front of you, delivering danger information to those involved, saving lives when overdoses occur, and connecting to subsequent treatment and life rebuilding. In the era of synthetic drugs, measures should be evaluated by the speed of information and life-saving, rather than moral condemnation.


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*Posts on social media are personal opinions and do not represent the overall public opinion of the UK or Scotland.

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