Drug-checking service aims to counter toxic supply entering Scotland – minister

Drugs minister Maree Todd has said Scotland’s first local drug-checking service will respond to the nation’s “increasingly toxic supply” of substances.

The service, due to open in October, will take samples of users’ drugs and show them exactly what they contain.

On Wednesday, Ms Todd said the Glasgow service should allow for harm-reduction, and will use AI to show how dirty Scotland’s drugs really are.

The initiative is hosted by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee.

The Scottish Government hopes the centre can be the first of many, with facilities due to open later in Dundee and Aberdeen.

Maree Todd said she hopes the service will help Scots make safer decisions on drugs (Andrew Milligan/PA)

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Another facility has been planned for Edinburgh.

Ms Todd said: “I am very pleased that this facility will open next month and I thank our Glasgow partners for their hard work to deliver this pilot which will be vital in helping us respond to emerging threats.

“Establishing new drug-checking facilities will help people make safer decisions and provide vital information on the risk of emerging substances.

“That is why we have consistently impressed upon the UK Government the importance of approving these facilities.

“We are working hard with partners to respond to an increasingly toxic supply.

“A key part of our action is early identification of emerging risks and this new service is particularly important in light of the current dangers posed by new synthetic opioids like nitazenes which raise the risk of overdose and death.

“We are committed to strengthening our Radar (Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response) early warning system and using data, evidence and innovation to ensure services can adapt quickly to new threats and protect people and communities.”