THE deadly “street blues” being sold in Glasgow for pennies are responsible in more than 8 out of ten drug deaths.

The Evening Times revealed on Monday how the pills were flooding the market and causing around three deaths a week since the start of December.

It can now be revealed that the Etizolam pills, sold in Glasgow as street blues, have been present in toxicology reports in 85 per cent of drug related deaths.

The drug is most commonly found with illegal opiates like heroin or prescribed methadone.

Drug deaths in the city have been rising sharply in the last year and experts believe the pills are the main cause of the increase due their strength and those taking them mixing with other drugs

Drug deaths in Glasgow have increased for the first ten months of last year by 43 per cent which will take it above 250 deaths.

In 2017 there were 192 drug deaths in the city and in 121 of them Benzodiazepines including the street blues were present.

That accounted for 63 per cent of all deaths.

In 2018 and since the market has been flooded and dealers targeting vulnerable people living in homelessness accommodation that proportion of deaths rose to 85 per cent.

The biggest impact is thought to be towards the end of the year and continuing into 2019.

It is understood that the pills have been leading to a rise in overdoses and causing concern among the medical profession.

Saket Priyadarshi, Associate Medical Director, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Addiction Services, said: "The use of this drug in particular is associated with severe harm - from non-fatal overdoses and presentations to emergency departments to fatalities.

"It is particularly dangerous when used in combination with other drugs like heroin and even prescribed methadone.”