He managed to escape, to get a new place to live in. A new figure turned up on the street. He wore a blue puffer jacket and box-fresh khaki yellow designer boots, and he strutted up and down bellowing orders to the gang in the top flat. There were no police around, only a frightened old lady watching through a mirror. As the dealer bawled, she switched on her ventilator and placed the plastic mask to her mouth.
Dealers never sell pure heroin.
They cut it, say, five times. Prohibition isn't working,' said Czerkas. His fears are backed up by colleagues in Sheffield, Bury and Glasgow, all of whom told The Observer that heroin use was becoming more widespread and the users' average age falling. The grim news is confirmed by research carried out by Professor Neil McKeganey of Glasgow University. Between 5 and 6 per cent of them said yes.