THE emergency services in Lancaster and Morecambe fear drug casualties could rocket over the millennium as lethally pure heroin floods into the district.

Health officials have issued warnings about fluctuating levels of purity in heroin being sold in the Morecambe Bay area which could lead to an increased risk of over-dosing or death.

Morecambe Bay Health Authority's acting Director of Public Health, Dr John Astbury, said: "We have intelligence which suggests there has been a substantial increase in the purity of heroin being sold in the area. This presents increased dangers. Anyone using the substance illegally should be aware that they are putting themselves at increased risk of over-dosing or killing themselves."

He added: "Taking drugs at any time is extremely dangerous. Users don't know what drugs have been mixed with so they have to realise that they do not know what they are taking. For instance, with drugs like heroin if the purity levels are higher than usual users could die."

Drug and alcohol director, Paul Brown, said: "This can be a time of year when people do a lot of things to excess, be it eating, partying or taking drugs.

"Because we do not know th epurity of illegal drugs such as heroin, it is a bit like playing Russian roulette - extremely dangerous with the chance of fatality.

There are thought to be around 200 heroin addicts in the area.

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