Labour in fentanyl drug crisis warning

SCOTTISH Labour has warned that a rise in synthetic opioid use "could resemble America's fentanyl crisis" if it is not acted upon urgently.

- BY SARAH WARD

Since 2022, more than one dose of naloxone has been administered to a patient by ambulance crews across Scotland on 6,156 occasions, indicating possible synthetic opioid use, according to a freedom of information request from the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Evidence shows synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and methadone are more resistant to naloxone, meaning that more than one dose is needed to reverse an overdose.