Synthetic opioid linked to 1,000 deaths across the UK in just two-and-a-half years

"Synthetic opioids pose the biggest risk. Since nitazenes first appeared at scale in the UK in June 2023, they have been connected to 1,000 deaths. This is an extraordinary figure."

"In Britain, half of homicides, thefts and robberies are linked to drugs, the NCA chief said."

Synthetic opioids pose the greatest threat in the UK's ongoing battle against illegal drugs. Nitazenes, a specific synthetic opioid, have been connected to 1,000 deaths across the UK in just two-and-a-half years since their appearance at scale in June 2023. Graeme Biggar, Director General of the National Crime Agency, described this death toll as extraordinary. While fatalities saw a slight decrease in 2025, UK law enforcement remains vigilant to prevent a crisis similar to the surge in deaths witnessed in North America. The NCA chief emphasized that half of homicides, thefts, and robberies in Britain are linked to drugs, highlighting the broader connection between drug use and violent crime.

Read at www.independent.co.uk