| We looked at needle exchange, an NHS-run project which provides users with packs of clean syringes, and other “works” to prevent the spread of disease.
Last month alone, more than 10,000 needles were distributed to users across the city by pharmacies.
Including the chemists which did not return figures and the largest needle exchange at the Cairn Centre, the figure is closer to 15,000.
Presuming that most of those needles were used to inject a “tenner” bag of smack, that means the city could have a £1.8m heroin habit.
A police source told the Tele, “The real figure could even be far higher, when you take into account the fact that not all needles will be used once then thrown away.
“There’s also the growing number of users who are smoking heroin. Our intelligence shows there are heroin users getting through anything between a tenner bag and £100 worth of heroin every day.
“Up the scale there will be people making a comfortable living out of this. At the bottom end are the people who are dealing to feed their own habit.”
Those dealers’ livings, say police, are being made off the back of untold misery in communities. Prostitution, street robberies and break-ins are frequently linked to drug habits.
DCI Semple said, “We are maintaining enforcement, particularly in respect of dealers, and look to work in partnership with health services to move vulnerable people from the cycle of abuse and crime.” |
