Cole-Hamilton challenges First Minister on synthetic opioids threat

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today challenged Humza Yousaf during First Minister’s Questions about his government’s real-terms cuts to the drugs budget despite the emerging use of nitazenes in Scotland, synthetic opioids up to 50 times stronger than heroin.  

In December, the National Crime Agency confirmed that between 1 June and 7 December 2023, there were nine forensically linked drug related deaths to nitazenes in Scotland.  

The draft 2024/25 Scottish Budget freezes funding for the drug and alcohol budget, which is the equivalent to a real-terms cut

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“Nitazenes are a kind of synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin. They’re often delivered in a single pill or disguised as other substances entirely.  

“The synthetic opioid epidemic across North America has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.  

“And public health officials and charities are worried these drugs are coming to Scotland.

“We know that nitazenes have been linked to the deaths of nine Scots since the summer.

“The frontline in our response to this new threat is information, detection and treatment.  

“Presiding Officer, we still have the worst drug deaths in all of Europe.  

“So, can I ask the First Minister why his budget delivers a real-terms cut to drugs services, just as this new threat is emerging?”