This report shows benzodiazepines remain the most commonly identified group of psychoactive substances submitted, with a total of 18 identified. WEDINOS analysis again highlights concerns of substance substitution within the UK drug market. Over the past year, Bromazolam was the most commonly identified benzodiazepine, and most often purchased with the belief that it was Diazepam. Because Bromazolam is more potent than Diazepam, this creates enhanced risk of harm and overdose as individual consumers are not aware of dose, time of onset of effects, duration of effects or contraindications with other substances.

Total to date:

33,917 samples received

29,954 analysed

• 641 substances identified either in isolation or combination.
• Over 300 organisations and services –

Including: Emergency Departments, Local Health Teams, Substance Misuse Services, Housing and Homelessness, Education Centres,  Training Providers, Night Time Economy Venues, Festivals, Criminal  Justice Services and Welsh Prisons.  Samples are also provided by individuals not engaged with / accessing  services.

This Year 2022/23:

• 7,744 samples received representing an increase from 7,457 in 2021/22.
• 6,656 analysed from 6,345.
• Community samples increased to 4,979 from 4,684.
• 185 substances identified from 181.
• 75 different organisations, services and Night Time Economy (NTE) venues.
• Median age of sample providers 33 years (range 12 to 80 years).
• As in the previous five years benzodiazepines were the most commonly identified class of psychoactive substance with 18 identified.
• Cocaine was the most commonly identified substance.
• Most commonly identified in the community was bromazolam, followed by MDMA.
• Cocaine was the most commonly identified substance in the NTE.
• Criminal justice settings – the Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist (SCRA) MDMB-4en-PINACA was the most commonly identified substance, however more samples were profiled as “no active compound