⛔️CAUTION!⛔️ 23 Aug 24 Following testing by our scientists, a #harmreduction advisory, has been issued by #Greater #Manchester Drugs Early Warning System. Important #medical & #welfare guidance for #xylazine #intoxication. Stay safe and if unwell please seek medical attention.

Harm reduction information from the Greater Manchester Drugs Early Warning System (GMDEWS) is provided below 👇

JUST OUT! The new 2023-24 annual report from WEDINOS Project. The UK's largest public drug testing service & the heart of the drug checking & #harmreduction response in Wales. WEDINOS analysed & reported on over 7000 samples submitted last year 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 wedinos.org/resources/down…

🗞️Publication alert! Testing the performance of the first commercially available nitazene test strips (BTNX, Rapid ResponseTM) for drug checking purposes. Just out in Harm Reduct. J.📄👇 doi.org/10.1186/s12954… 🙏Christophe Stove Marthe Vandeputte

"Findings indicate that #nitazene test strips can theoretically alert to the presence of most nitazene analogues that have emerged on recreational drug markets."

⚠️WARNING!⚠️ 30 Aug 2024 Following testing by our scientists, a #harmreduction #warning, has been issued by #Greater #Manchester Drugs Early Warning System Important #medical & #welfare guidance for #nitazene #intoxication Stay safe and if unwell please seek medical attention

Naloxone is a safe and easy to use medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs. Anyone in Scotland aged 14 and over can request a free naloxone kit and access training in their usage. For free online training, go to: sdftraining.org.uk/e-learning/156… #IOAD2024

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember those who have been affected by a drug overdose, as well as their friends, families and communities. For #IOAD2024, Dr Tara Shivaji, PHS's lead for drugs and alcohol, recorded this message. #TogetherWeCan

Police find highly deadly drug nitazenes in the Netherlands for the first time - nos.nl/l/2535163

🚨Counterfeit Vodka in circulation 🚨👇

SDF's newly refreshed and updated Drug Awareness e-Learning is an introductory course ideal for people who may be working with people who use drugs. Free for learners in Scotland, register here: buff.ly/3MA1VJr

Our new piece in JAMA: #medetomidine has begun to infiltrate the illicit opioid market in the US Alex J Krotulski, PhD NDEWS NPS Discovery @ CFSRE jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…

🔔 New Publication Alert 🔔 ➡️ “#Medetomidine Infiltrates the #US Illicit #Opioid Market” now available in JAMA Network ‼️ 👨‍💻 Alex J Krotulski, PhD Joseph Palamar CFSRE NPS Discovery @ CFSRE NDEWS 🔗 jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…

We use this chart for reference when reporting out on #drugchecking results in #yyj and on Vancouver Island. There is value in aggregate data and it helps inform harm reduction practices by identifying potency relative to what we are seeing in the supply.

⛔️CAUTION!⛔️ 05 Sep 2024 Multiple yellow “Bitcoin” embossed #Ecstasy/#MDMA tablets analytically confirmed, by MANDRAKE, to contain synthetic #cathinone alpha-PHP (39 mg/tablet) = 2.5x common oral dose circulating in #Manchester. If unwell please seek medical attention.

#Xylazine: ❓️non-opioid animal sedative/muscle relaxant ❗️can depress breathing = potentially life-threatening if taken + other downer-type drugs ❗️frequently sold as/with downers like benzos, GHB + recently ketamine 💗 call 999 in emergency crew.scot/drug-market-up…

NEW: 1,277 people died from alcohol specific causes in 2023. That’s one more than the previous year. The number remains the highest since 2008. ⬇️ Get the report: bit.ly/AlcoholDeaths2… #NRStats

Any member of the public or first aid box holder who would be willing to provide ANY first aid should carry Naloxone. Anybody in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 can get a kit from oor mates Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs #ClickNDeliver service bit.ly/3HM50lv

“Until recently, most nitazene consumers were specifically seeking them out online. But these days, nitazenes are showing up in street drugs marketed as other things, like Xanax or oxycodone.” theguardian.com/us-news/2024/s…

As part of the evaluation of the National Mission on Drug Deaths, we've launched an anonymous survey to ask those with experience of using drugs about their experience of trying to get support in Scotland. Make your voice heard 📢 and take part 👇 publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-w…