Things have changed a lot on the heroin scene, even in the small time I've been using.
In 1997 when I started, the heroin market in the UK was flooded with (if you believe the reports) with 40-60% pure heroin...
There were so many dealers, if you got an introduction to a new guy they would often give a tester before you bought!
I've seen things change (in London at least) ever since.
I used to only deal with one or two regular guys, that although were usually creative with their timings they didn't really mess you around too much as there was always someone to take they're place.
These guys would usually reward your loyalty with small amounts of heroin 'ticked' (loaned) and would generally look after you if you were stuck and desperate.
Not any more.. !
I guess as people got arrested, and after the quantity of decent heroin dropped, at the beginning of the 2000s, things began got more difficult.
Incidentally this seemed to coincide with the war in Iraq
The dealers' solution was to start using teenagers to 'run' for them, the main reason to avoid arrest themselves. Ultimately the police are far less likely to stop and search a twelve year old on a bike than a guy in a car!
This is a serious problem, kids of school leaving age that would otherwise get into work or training are being snapped up by unscrupulous dealers. These kids just see dollar signs, why would they want to go to college or start working if they have the opportunity to make a fast buck for very little work.
I don't think they even realise the full implications of what they are doing! It gives them 'street cred' and respect.. and unfortunately, in a time where kids fight over postcodes as they have little else this counts for a lot.
I feel guilty buying from these kids, but being a heroin addict I have little choice! I look at them and think 'if only your mum knew what you were doing'! I'm sure she wouldn't be happy.
So, my point is, the heroin and crack scene is now, literally, run by kids...!
Kids that want respect and the kudos they get from running drugs, they revel in making us wait around on street corners and then giving us attitude when they do finally turn up. Thing is, they know we will wait....
All more reason for me to stop using and feeding into this cycle.
