Schottland. Nitazene Testing Strips Prove Valuable Engagement Tool, New Report Finds

A new evaluation from the Scottish Drugs Forum highlights the potential of nitazene testing strips as an effective tool to support engagement and reduce drug-related harms.

The pilot, delivered through SDF’s Living Experience Engagement project, distributed testing strips to people who use drugs and delivered overdose prevention training including drug trend awareness, recognising signs of overdose, naloxone administration and targeted harm reduction strategies for synthetic opioids and poly substance use. The evaluation shows that the strips were well-received, easy to use, and acted as a powerful starting point for wider conversations about safety and support.

Findings show that the intervention led to positive behaviour changes, including increased naloxone carriage, more cautious poly-substance use, and greater interest in confirmatory drug checking. Both staff and participants saw the strips as a gateway to more meaningful harm reduction engagement. (Scottish Drugs Forum, Schottland, 17.07.2025)

https://sdf.org.uk/nitazene-testing-strips-prove-valuable-engagement-tool-new-report-finds/