By Steven Bell

Police warned last night that “tenner” bags of heroin on the streets of Tayside are increasing in purity—putting addicts at a greater risk of overdose.

One senior officer said there had already been a rise in the number of overdoses caused by the drug and predicted that developments in poppy producing Afghanistan could see the trend continue.

Head of the drugs squad Detective Inspector Campbell McGregor was speaking as a watchdog warned in an official report of a massive increase in heroin production in the war-ravaged country.

He said, “From what we have heard about Afghanistan and the Taliban, there has been more coming out of there, and it could be that in coming years we have more availability and the purity could increase.”

That means users are less likely to be exposed to poisonous contaminants but are at a greater risk of taking too much of the drug itself.

“Heroin coming back is not new—it has been back for a number of years and we have been targeting that,” said Mr McGregor. “Prices have remained the same on the streets, where you can buy a bag for £10 or £20, but when there is more about the purity increases.

“When it is more scarce then it becomes adulterated, but it will still be sold for the same prices. It all comes back to tolerances.

“It’s the same as with alcohol—if you are used to a certain strength then you take something that is much stronger then it’s going to have an effect on you.

“If you take a shot of heroin that is purer then you are more likely to overdose, and we have seen more cases than in previous years where heroin has been reported as the cause.

“It is very important that, if people see friends overdosing, they seek immediate medical attention.”

The UN’s drug watchdog warned yesterday that Afghanistan is in danger of becoming a “narcotic state” after producing its largest annual crop of heroin since the overthrow of Taliban rule.

The country—which is responsible for nearly all the heroin on Britain’s streets—grew an estimated 4200 tons of the drug in 2004, up 800 tons on the previous year.

The UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) also said that the UK had the largest heroin seizure rate in Europe and the third highest number of heroin addicts.

INCB president Professor Hamid Ghodse said, “Afghanistan has been deteriorating, with a 17% increase to 4200 tonnes of heroin. This is a major concern of the board.

“If it is not going to be a narcotics state, which is a risk, then Afghanistan needs to do very urgent action in eradication and alternative development.”

The Taliban imposed a zero tolerance approach on drug crops which led to dramatic falls in the country’s heroin exports.