POTENTIALLY contaminated heroin is reported to be circulating in Dundee, leading to fears of a major health problem in the city.

The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday warned users that a bad batch of the class A drug has found its way on to the city’s streets, just a day after it emerged Dundee has the highest rate of problem substance abuse in Scotland.

Figures broken down into Drug and Alcohol Action Team areas show that more than 2500 people in Dundee, 2.8% of the population aged 15-54, are abusing heroin and valium.

With such high numbers of heroin injectors in Dundee a contaminated batch could have grave consequences, according to Tayside Police drugs co-ordinator Detective Inspector Wendy Symington.

“It is difficult to know how many users in Dundee may have access to this batch as it only appears to have come into the area quite recently,” she said.

“We are obviously trying to compile new information now that we know this has appeared on the streets of Dundee but as of yet we do not have any idea what this heroin is cut with because there have been no recoveries which could be analysed.

“In Dundee there are big numbers of users who potentially have access to this batch and most buy locally so this potentially contaminated heroin could lead to a major health problem. It may be users suffer serious illness or worse.”

The SDEA have said the consignment appears more yellow in colour than normal and has an unusual smell, described as being similar to diesel or acid.

A variety of symptoms are associated with the injection of this heroin including becoming ‘shaky’, sweaty and violently sick, pins and needles in arms, swelling and infection around injecting sites, while some users have passed out after consumption.

Users experiencing such symptoms were first reported in Central and Fife last week.

DI Symington added that one of the drug agencies that works with Tayside Police has subsequently reported that addicts in Dundee were experiencing similar problems and that they believed the same batch was now circulating in the area.

SDEA national drugs co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Gillian Wood, said these incidents illustrated the dangers associated with the misuse of illicit drugs—that you can never be sure of their true contents.

“I would caution against the use of illicit drugs, particularly heroin matching this description,” she said.

“In light of the symptoms already described by some users, I would advise anyone feeling unwell as a result of using heroin to seek medical attention immediately.”

Anyone with information regarding the supply of the potentially contaminated batch should contact police on 01382-223200 or anonymously at Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.