Scotland’s first local drug-checking service will open in Glasgow in October 2026, providing rapid analysis of submitted substances and harm-reduction advice, as drug-related deaths in the country rose by 11% in 2025 to 1,133, according to National Records of Scotland.
Rising Drug Deaths in Scotland
The increase of 116 deaths compared to 2024 marks the sixth-highest year on record since current data collection began in 2000. The death rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people is four times higher than in 2000, highlighting a severe public health crisis. Nitazenes, particularly etonitazene, were implicated in 247 deaths last year, with 215 linked to etonitazene alone. Opiates, opioids, cocaine, and benzodiazepines remained the most common substances involved, while polydrug use occurred in 78% of fatal cases. Cocaine-related deaths rose 23% from 2024, according to the report.
Experts point to evolving drug markets as a key driver of the crisis. Barry Chapman of the Scottish Specialist Pharmacists in Substance use Management group noted that synthetic opioids and polydrug use are central to drug-related harm. He emphasized that community pharmacists’ access to high-risk populations makes them vital in harm reduction. Separate data from The Thistle, Glasgow’s safer consumption facility, showed cocaine use at the site dropped from 81% in January 2026 to 54% by July, while heroin use rose from 10% to 28%, suggesting shifting patterns in substance use.
New Drug-Checking Service to Launch
The Scottish government confirmed over £1.7 million has been invested in the Glasgow pilot, with three additional facilities planned. Aberdeen and Dundee have received Home Office licenses, and Edinburgh is preparing its application. The investment reflects a strategic shift toward proactive harm reduction strategies. Samples from Glasgow will be analyzed at a new national laboratory hosted by the University of Dundee’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science. Drugs minister Maree Todd, a hospital pharmacist, stated the service would help people make safer decisions, especially amid dangers from synthetic opioids like nitazenes. The national laboratory will provide real-time analysis, enabling timely guidance for users about the contents and risks of their substances.
The service will only serve individuals over 18 dependent on illicit drugs, per Home Office licensing rules. Professor Catriona Matheson of the University of Stirling criticized the slow progress on such services, calling their establishment “long overdue.” She praised Scotland’s drug surveillance system for identifying threats like xylazine and medetomidine contaminating opioid supplies but urged faster implementation of drug-checking programs. Matheson emphasized that early detection of novel substances is critical for public safety and treatment planning.
Laura Wilson of the Royal College of Pharmacy stressed that pharmacists play a critical role in reducing harm through naloxone distribution and connecting people to treatment. She warned that sustained investment in harm reduction and recovery services is essential to prevent further deaths. The data also revealed stark disparities, with drug death rates 15 times higher in Scotland’s most deprived communities, highlighting the need for accessible, community-based interventions. These disparities show the importance of targeted outreach in areas with the highest social and economic challenges.