In a stark and moving warning of the catastrophic consequences that can result from the abuse of heroin, his mum opened her heart to the Tele to talk about the slow path of destruction wreaked on all their lives.

Among those caught up in the fallout of the tragedy is her innocent three-year-old granddaughter, who was born addicted to the drug and spent the first weeks of her life being painfully weaned off it at Ninewells Hospital.

“My son was a heroin addict,” said the woman. “And he committed suicide because of the drug. By the end he was completely at the end of his tether and couldn’t take it any more.

“I want to tell people about what happened so, hopefully, something might get done about it and another family won’t have the same thing happen.

“I am so angry that it happened to me that I knew I had to do what I can.”

By the time the woman realised her son was using heroin, he was already a father and had moved his partner into the family home.

“It was actually with his partner that I noticed it first. When she was feeding her baby daughter I realised she was so spaced out she couldn’t even find her mouth.

“When I spoke to him about it, he did try to explain to me he had to take it to carry on.

“He said he didn’t take it to get high anymore, but just to keep going. I didn’t know what to do.

“They would steal my credit cards and take money from my purse. I went out one day and, when I came back, I had no video, no DVD player, no digibox — everything was gone.

“But it didn’t mean anything to them — all they wanted was to get their hands on heroin.

“When they finally moved out, I found 72 needles in their bedroom. It was unbelievable — I honestly didn’t think they were using in the house.”

Concerned about her granddaughter being cared for by the couple, the fearful mum contacted the social services, who eventually removed the child and put her into her care.

“She was born addicted to heroin and was in the hospital for three weeks,” said the woman.

“She was only three pounds when she was born, which is always a sign something is wrong.

“But I have care of her now and she is coming along just great.

“But she’s got all that to deal with when she gets older and starts asking questions about her dad.

“His former partner has since had another child which was born addicted to heroin as well. It is terrible.”

The final blow came when her son lost all hope and killed himself late last year.

On his death certificate the cause of death is recorded as “suicide and heroin overdose”.

“My son’s life was ended by heroin, but it also affects so many other people close to him,” said the woman. “I’ve had to give up my job to look after my child and there has been a financial strain on me and my husband.

“My parents are absolutely devastated. He was their first grandson. And my daughter has lost her brother. It has destroyed the whole family.

“He was such a good wee boy when he was a child — although I suppose I would say that.

“He wasn’t the best academically, but he was always a hard worker. But heroin just ruined his life. That’s why I want to say to these young people just how dangerous it is.

“I know more people my son’s age who have died through drugs than I do people my mum and dad’s age who died of natural causes.

“Something has to be done to change this.”