IMPORTANT: Drug Alerts
NESCol may learn of a new Drug Alert in the event that a concerning increase in drug overdoses or a change in drug-related harm is identified in Scotland, or even specifically within Aberdeen City/Aberdeenshire. In such instances, we will share this information with staff and students, to help raise awareness and support everyone to remain safe from drug-related harm, and reduce the risk of drug deaths. See - Stop the Deaths.
Why This Matters for NESCol Students
- The affected group includes people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Even smoking heroin, not just injecting, has led to overdoses.
- Mixing substances, including alcohol and prescription drugs, increases the risk.
How to Stay Safe
- Never use drugs alone – have someone who can call for help.
- Carry Naloxone – it is a lifesaving medication, available for free. You can use the Aberdeen Protects mobile app.
- If you do use drugs - be very cautious, dose low, go slow, avoid mixing.
- Know the signs of an overdose – collapse, shallow or slowed breathing, blue lips, pale skin, pin-point pupils, unresponsiveness (unable to speak or respond), unconsciousness (won’t wake with a shout or a shake), snoring or rasping breaths.
- Call 999 immediately if someone overdoses.
This information could save a life - stay informed and share it with others. Staying safe may not mean saying no to everything - it does mean being smart, aware, and ready to help when someone needs it.
Drug Alert: March and August 2025 - Nitazenes
Examples of how drugs containing nitazenes may look.
Concerns have been raised about an increase in near-fatal and fatal overdoses, believed to involve heroin contaminated with nitazenes (a form of synthetic opioids). In Scotland, nitazenes are most commonly detected as a contaminant in drugs sold as heroin, benzodiazepines and oxycodone. Nitazenes pose a substantial risk of overdose due to their high potency. Overdoses such as these can happen quickly and require multiple doses of naloxone to reverse. Do not call it “strong heroin” - nitazenes are toxic and unpredictable. Note: there is no safe way to use nitazenes. The initial Alert was published in March 2025, with a further Alert published in August 2025, responding to the increasing harm and availability of Nitazenes in the drugs supply. Nitazenes are now widely detected in all parts of Scotland, are were detected in 38 deaths between January and March 2025. Please see below link for the documents related to these drug alerts.
Warning: Dangerous Green Pills with Synthetic Opioid
A public health warning has been issued following two recent fatalities linked to counterfeit green pills in London. The pills may be marked with ‘80’ and possibly ‘OP’. These pills look like prescription medications, but actually contain a super-strong synthetic opioid that can be deadly, even in tiny amounts. They might be sold as something else - so you might not even know you’re taking it. If you are thinking of taking anything, do not use alone, and do not mix with alcohol or other drugs. If you or someone else feels unwell, do not wait - get help straight away. For trusted advice, check the FRANK website. The safest choice is not to take unknown substances at all - but if you or someone else does, make sure you're clued up and look out for each other.
