HEROIN ALERT AFTER THREE SUDDEN DEATHS

A 'bad batch' of heroin may be being sold on the streets of Scotlanda's
capital, police warned today following the sudden deaths of three drug
users.

Two men and a woman have died in Edinburgh's Leith area over the past three
days, in circumstances which appear to be drug-related.

Yesterday morning, a 41-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man were found dead
at separate addresses in the east end area.

Police believe the woman had recently taken heroin and it is understood the
man's death was also drug-related.

Two days earlier, a 20-year-old man was found dead in bed in a Leith house
at about 9.30pm.

On Wednesday, an ambulance was called to an address in Wester Hailes where
an 18-year-old man had overdosed after allegedly taking a cocktail of drugs,
which is believed to have included heroin.

The man is recovering in hospital.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "We are concerned about the
fact that we have had three sudden deaths all appearing to be heroin related
in a very short space of time, and one overdose.

"We are also investigating the suggestion that there may be a bad batch of
the drug currently being sold in the city.

"It is unusual to have so many deaths so close together and in the same part
of the city.

"Obviously we want to warn drug users of the potential danger so that they
can be on their guard and seek medical attention should they think they have
been affected.

"We are at the early stage of inquiries but public safety is our primary
concern."

Reports will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in the case of the sudden
deaths.

Post-mortem examinations and toxicology tests will be carried out on all of
the victims to establish whether or not the deaths are linked.

John Arthur, manager of Edinburgh-based drugs advisory service Crewe 2000,
said the situation was "definitely very worrying" and advised drug users to
be especially vigilant over the coming days.

He said: "We are saying to people to be very careful because everything
seems to point to the fact that there is an adulterant in this batch of
heroin.

"The danger of using illegal drugs is that you don't know what is mixed in
with them.

"Drug users should take the usual harm-reduction steps to minimise the risk
to them.

"Don't use drugs on your own, say in toilets, where you can't be found if
you did experience difficulties.

"Be very careful if you start to experience any kind of bad reaction.

"Always try to look out for each other, especially if you are not sure of
the source of the drugs."