New drugs warning

A WARNING has been given increased harm from changes in Scotland’s drug supply. Public Health Scotland (PHS) is urging caution following reports of new, unfamiliar substances which have been detected. One of those is sedative medetomidine, which is likely to be consumed unknowingly and has most commonly been detected in drugs sold as heroin and benzodiazepines.

Meanwhile, there's also an alert about changes to the street benzo market, with new substances appearing, including jelly capsules; and previously detected benzodiazepines, including clonazolam, re-emerging. PHS are keen to raise awareness in Dumfries and Galloway and say that drug supply in all parts of Scotland continues to be highly toxic and unpredictable, with contamination increasing the risk of harms. Tara Shivaji, consultant in public health medicine, said: “During 2025, we saw a pattern of sudden and sharp increases in drug-related harms and an unstable, rapidly evolving drug supply in Scotland. "We advise anyone who is using street drugs, or supporting someone else who is, to assume that they are contaminated with other drugs. Having someone who can help in an emergency is an important harm reduction measure, but there’s no safe way to take these substances."