Police are battling a significant rise in the amount of crack cocaine flooding the streets of Fife.
Officers have found the powerful drug, which is made by ‘washing back’ cocaine, has become more available in the last six months, prompting fears of a future epidemic.
Police Scotland’s Detective Constable Kira Murray, of the Proactive Unit in Glenrothes, told how Kirkcaldy is particularly affected by the substance, which users smoke.
The warning came as a team of Community Investigation Officers forced entry to a property in Templehall which is suspected to be involved in the supply of drugs.
Around a dozen officers broke down the door, which had been barricaded from the inside, before carrying out a search of the house as stunned neighbours looked on.
Ms Murray explained why the highly-addictive drug is causing such an issue for officers and the local community.
She said: “We didn’t have a lot of crack cocaine in Fife up until about six months to a year ago.
“But we’ve started to see bits and pieces of crack coming back in recoveries and also through conversations with people telling us that crack was available on the streets.
“Because it causes such an intense euphoric reaction for the user which is more powerful than taking cocaine itself, you tend to find that sometimes people who would use heroin in the past are also now using crack cocaine.
“The problem with it and the reason it’s causing such a big problem is because that euphoric effect only lasts for around five or ten minutes.
“It’s a really powerful high but really short term which causes the users to want to go get more and more. That’s causing a knock-on impact in other areas.
“I suspect it may be Fife-wide but crack cocaine seems to be much more popular in the Kirkcaldy area and that’s why we’re trying to focus our attention on this area in particular.”
DC Murray warned of the dangerous side-effects that are associated with crack cocaine, including extreme paranoia, and outlined some warning signs to watch out for.
She said: “Everybody experiences the drug differently but part of the common side effects include a euphoric feeling and increased energy.
“And after they have taken it, users can experience mood swings, depression, paranoia and increased agitation. There’s also some physical effects as well.
“It’s mainly respiratory issues from short to long term use, increased blood pressure, cardiovascular risks.
“Using crack cocaine will have a massive financial impact so if people are draining money left, right and centre or they’re looking for money from other sources, then that would certainly be a worrying sign.”
The drug has a similar street value to normal cocaine and sells for around £100 per gram.
It is made using normal cocaine which is then burned using chemicals such as bicarbonate of soda during a process known as “washing it back”.
Fifers are being urged to report any concerns they have regarding drug supply in the local community and are asked to speak to the police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
