Heroin users ‘getting desperate’

Addicts ‘turning to poorer-quality drugs and violence’ following raids in Dundee

By Alison Middleton

Published:

Heroin addicts are turning to poorer-quality drugs and violence following police raids in Dundee, it was claimed yesterday.

Addicts visiting Addaction Dundee Direct Access have reported an “immediate” impact on the availability of heroin in the city.

With areas of the city said to be “dry” of heroin, fewer drug users than expected have turned to addiction access services.

Raids have been taking place as part of Operation Waterloo, which aims to tackle drug dealing and associated crime in the Hilltown, Albert Street and Stobswell areas of Dundee.

The operation follows months of intelligence-gathering in response to 19 drug-related deaths in Dundee so far this year.

Illegal drugs worth more than £50,000 have been seized since the high-profile operation began last month.

Gareth Balmer, project manager of the Addaction Dundee Direct Access, said police enforcement is a very important part of tackling drug use.

But he said reducing the supply of the drug did not affect the demand for it on the streets. “What happens is heroin becomes scarcer, and what is around tends to be adulterated and poor quality,” he said.

“People get desperate and whatever they get their hands on they’ll use.

“For an intravenous heroin user it is particularly dangerous. The ratio of heroin to adulterant is lower and there is more damage to their veins.

“Because they've been using poorer-quality heroin their tolerance will be lowered. They also tend to use more because it’s so weak.

“What worries us most is the drought will not last forever. The strength will go up again and there’s a really big overdose risk.”

He added: “When heroin users are in withdrawal, there tends to be an increase in violence. They get desperate. And because they are using weaker heroin, they might be needing to find more money.”