HEROIN DEALERS FORCE ADDICTS TO BUY CRACK

DRUG barons targeting the north-east of Scotland are forcing addicts to buy
crack cocaine if they want their heroin fix.

One doctor who runs an addiction clinic has warned that, because crack
users tend to be far more violent than heroin users, it is only a matter of
time before there are deaths and serious injuries as the problem spirals.

Three years ago Drugs Action, an Aberdeen-based agency, had around a dozen
clients who were using crack cocaine but now around one third of the 1200
on their books are users.

Drugs Action is currently recruiting two full-time staff to run a pilot
two-year project to help crack addicts. The £136,000 project is being
funded by the Scottish Executive.

Dr Hugh Hepburn, who runs the Alexander Clinic at Oldmeldrum, said: "Users
of crack are very violent and in the States they found a huge level of
violent crime directly associated with it caused by users desperate for money."

Crack produces an intense and immediate effect but wears off quickly and as
a result addicts need large supplies.