USERS HIDING HEROIN IN TEETHING POWDER SACHETS

Drugs squad detectives have uncovered a disturbing and dangerous trend
of addicts hiding heroin inside sachets of teething powder for babies.

The practice is emerging throughout Scotland but has become so rife in
Edinburgh that chemists have been alerted to monitor patterns and have
so far reported increased sales of homeopathic teething powder sachets.

Police in the capital have frequently recovered heroin in sachets from
users with children, while other addicts use the powder to mix with
the drug to make sales go further.

The revelation comes just months after a three-year-old boy was
treated in hospital after he apparently swallowed heroin at his home
in Glasgow.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ross, of Lothian and Borders Police,
said hiding the class A drug inside baby products posed a serious risk.

"We are recovering heroin in teething powder sachets in the houses of
drug users and the chemists have also noted that there is quite a high
demand, and not always from the people who appear to be parents.

"It is homeopathic teething powder and comes in a paper wrap which is
similar to that utilised by a drug user, and they are using that wrap
and the associated box as a place of concealment.

"That obviously has potential dangers, if, for example, a babysitter
used the contents on a child's gums. It is a trend being replicated
throughout Scotland and there are inherent dangers."