August 25, 2026 - 168 views
People in Wales are being warned that illegal drugs are becoming increasingly unpredictable, with more than one in three samples tested by Public Health Wales found to contain something different from what the buyer thought they had purchased.
The warning comes from the latest annual report from WEDINOS – the Welsh Emerging Drugs and Identification Service – which tests drug samples submitted from across Wales and monitors changes in the illegal drugs market.
The report covers April 2025 to March 2026 and found that 36.6% of community samples where the intended drug was known did not contain the expected substance.
In simple terms, someone may think they are buying one drug but actually receive something completely different.
That can make taking illegal drugs particularly dangerous because people may have no idea what they are consuming, or how strong it is.
WEDINOS has identified orphine analogues for the first time. These are highly potent synthetic opioids and were found alongside veterinary sedatives in samples submitted as heroin.
The organisation is particularly concerned about the continuing appearance of powerful synthetic opioids because of the increased risk of accidental overdose.
Nitazenes – another group of highly potent synthetic opioids – are also continuing to circulate.
The report also highlights concerns about counterfeit medicines, particularly benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepines remained the most commonly identified group of substances submitted to WEDINOS, with diazepam accounting for the largest number of samples.
Some of these products had been bought from online pharmacies and looked almost identical to genuine medication.
However, testing showed that they did not necessarily contain what was advertised.
Public Health Wales is therefore urging people to only take medication prescribed by a doctor and supplied through a legitimate pharmacy.
WEDINOS found that 43% of THC, CBD or cannabinoid vape samples submitted for testing contained synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, commonly known as SCRAs or sometimes referred to as 'Spice'.
These are not simply another form of cannabis.
They can produce much stronger and more unpredictable effects, including severe anxiety, panic, hallucinations, psychosis and seizures.
For someone who believes they are using a THC or cannabis vape, discovering that it actually contains a powerful synthetic cannabinoid could therefore come as a dangerous surprise.
Rick Lines, Head of Programme for Substance Misuse at Public Health Wales, said the findings demonstrated how unpredictable the illegal drugs market had become.
He said the high level of substances being substituted for what buyers believed they were purchasing could increase the risk of harmful effects and accidental overdose.
He added that the increasing detection of highly potent orphine analogues was particularly concerning, with some having never previously been identified by WEDINOS.
The service says its work is intended to help identify emerging threats and provide information that can reduce the risks associated with drug use.
For anyone worried about their own drug or alcohol use, or that of someone they know, the Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline can be contacted on 0808 808 2234.
Support is also available by texting DAN to 81066 or through the Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline website.
