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Heroin Drought Causing Problems in England

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #660)
Consequences of Prohibition

A scarcity of heroin in England is leading to a growing number of drug overdoses and poisonings as users ingest dope cut with other substances by dealers trying to stretch supplies, The Guardian reported this week. Scene watchers there are calling it the worst drought in years.

Are you sure that's heroin? Be careful out there, especially in England
The drought is being blamed not on seizures by law enforcement agencies, but on a fungus that has blighted the Afghan opium poppy crop, reducing the size of this year's poppy crop by half. Afghanistan accounts for more than 90% of the world's opium production and likely 100% of the British heroin supply.

"There is a very significant heroin shortage across the UK at the moment," said Gary Cross, head of drug policy for the non-profit group Release.  "It has been going on for some time now, but the last two months have seen stockpiles exhausted."

"I've never known anything like it in 30 years," wrote one long-time heroin user on an on-line forum discussing the shortage.

As dealers and users scramble to grapple with the shortage, users are turning up at hospitals after ingesting adulterated heroin or, in some cases, fake heroin consisting of a powerful sedative, caffeine, and paracetamol, a bulking agent. Some have passed out after smoking or ingesting, while others have reported vomiting, amnesia, and flu-like symptoms.

"This 'heroin drought' appears to be serious and geographically widespread," said Neil Hunt, director of research at KCA, a nationwide community drug treatment service. "Street heroin is in a complete and utter muddle at the moment, and users are collapsing unexpectedly. We need to standardize information about what's out there.

"If people use this intravenously, perhaps on top of alcohol and methadone [the prescribed substitute drug for heroin], it is extremely risky," said Dr. John Ramsey, who runs a drug database at St. George's Medical School in London. "We have had many reports of people overdosing. It's really important that accident and emergency departments understand that they may not be dealing with a 'normal' heroin overdose when people are brought in," he said.

Harm reduction drug agencies are aware of the problem and working to address it. Several of them held an urgent meeting last week to discuss setting up an online warning system to give users notice about contaminated or adulterated drugs.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

djkev76 (not verified)

not been on here 4 time was well clean since december now the last month or so got bak on the misstress brown. and my script stopped in december and avin 2 go bk and get another i say its good here prices r but there is still sum shit floating about in milton keynes it takes away ur pains an not much gouch but then other times a wicked gouch.. so peace 2 all....

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 3:42am Permalink
Jm (not verified)

Well i've not checked this place for quite a while now, obviously due to the fact that all has been good in the hood since the drought eased off, especially the early stages of Mr.Brown's return. February through march i was getting hold of some of the finest gear i'd had in yeaaaars and it weren't down to a low tolerance it actually was just like the good ol' days!!!

 

Anyways, over the last coupla months the quality of the gear has been dropping, again. Obviously i been getting some decent gear but i've not had anything propa propa pukka since like the end of march and have heard roumers of another drought upon us??? I remember this is how the last one started.

Tue, 07/26/2011 - 3:32pm Permalink
djkev1976 (not verified)

how another drought is desending on us yet again as i see it this time it's the same size bags for the same money but the gear is just shite shite shite again.

s anyone else on here gettin this problem but as i see ive not been on here for time an it looks like the same with all the others.. i would like to hear if any good or shite across the land??

peace love an good tootin or hitting up to all !!!

djkev1976

Thu, 11/24/2011 - 1:17pm Permalink
Fluzie Suzie (not verified)

In reply to by djkev1976 (not verified)

Looks like the drought back in Dublin. Can get stuff but pure shite. All main dealers phones off since yesterday. Anyone else in Dublin experience this??? or anyone know where we can get decent brown in Dublin ??? can't go throught this shit again !!!

Sat, 11/26/2011 - 6:45am Permalink
LiquidGoldRunningUp (not verified)

ANYONE in London, any suggestions where can I get some quality sister brown? I hope the drought is not back again...

Sat, 12/03/2011 - 12:03am Permalink
intheknow (not verified)

Well, it is now 2012 and there 'aint no end in sight. I live by Southall in West London and I can tell you, this is the serious center of smack for the UK! I used to be able to pay peanuts for gear, I used to serve up and I was charging £80 an 1/8th and all was good, the gear was ream and everybody was gouching out their nuts all day long. I went to jail in Jan 2010, not gear related, and when I came out in Jan 2011 I was horrified to see what had happened to the scene. It was hard work getting even a joey and that was unheard of where I am from. I have still been able to get bags and the gear has been, surprisingly, good. Admittedly it has been scarce but it has always been there, now however, things have got real bad, people do still have good gear but they are charging £20 a point and no-one but no-one is letting off lumps off the stuff. Don't hold out much hope myself, looks like we all need to get sorted whether we like it or not eh??! Just wanted to let you know what was happening this neck of the woods, be lucky people.

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 12:43pm Permalink
Carly (not verified)

I'm from Feltham in Middlesex and this drought just come as a BIG suprise....It's been two weeks and normally it's so easy to get some food round here but it's just dried up! Everyone seems to being ringing everyone for help! Even DEALERS ringing me to get them some gear! The sizes at the moment are .1 for £15/£20 even so much as half a point! (Now that's just a liberty!). It probably wouldn't be that bad if it was even good gear but it's not!!!! I'm on a script but don't take my medication, I just store it up....Glad I did! It's pointless even trying to get gear cause of the way it is at the moment. The gear I'm getting now dosnt even do anything to me as I'm use to much stronger better gear anyway. I really don't know how some dealers sleep at night for what they are doing to people.........They obviously don't understand what 'clucking' is actually really like? There are people out there giving them there last bit of money to dealers just to feel better but in actual fact they are bashing it with god knows what!?! Wankers! This drought probably wont last long but people are gonna get greedy and string it out to get as much money as they can....................Think it's time I started taking my juice. 

 

+++++Beware people++++

Carly x :)

 

Sun, 02/26/2012 - 2:46pm Permalink

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