Culture - Changes in the UK heroin scene

[mickey_bee]

Following threads like the UK drought, (which is still on page one of the forum after several months), I'd be interested to know what people who've been on the scene for a while think about today's situation.

Swim's only been on the scene properly for a couple of years, so he can't really say things are getting worse or better.

If you've been using in the UK for longer than a couple of years, or have a friend who has, how would you compare the heroin scene of yesteryear to today?

-Major trends in prices? Cheaper? More expensive?

-Heroin quality? Better? Worse? More unpredictable?

-Availability? More outlets? Less? Trends?

-Users? Stagnant? Or are there new kids entering the scene?

I appreciate I'm asking alot of questions for you or your friend to answer, but any even vaguely relevant contributions would be interesting.

You can tell when a swim's running low on gear. Christ.

Reputation Comments on this post:

asking relevant questions

[BrownStreakRailroad]

yes SWImickeybee....SWIM has been on the scene in the UK for 12 years now, and SWIM has lived in most of the major cities in the UK at some point or another including Liverpool, London, Birmingham, Bristol etc...SWIM started using in the mid 90's and it was just after the jungle techno era when there seemed to be a huge flooding of the market of heroin, the previous flood was in the 80's but the ecstasy days had taken over to some extent and the heroin scene became big again at the time SWIM started using. in those days SWIY only got 0.1g for a bag, but that actually had an effect as the gear was much stronger then! it wouldnt touch the sides now. SWIM remembers huge crowds of people waiting for a dealer which SWIM does not see these days, like 30-50 people or so in a subway or back alley! SWIM is not sure about how many new kids will come on the scene, especially as the situation in the UK has been so bad since last may, it must be off putting to a new starter?? but the scene has definatley changed as has the quality, but to be fair until last may, the UK had always had shit hot supply and the prices had more than halved in the time SWIM has been using!! thought it would remain the same, as it had for 11 years, but it is a diabolical situation now!! SWIM is just using methadone at the minute as SWIM has had enough of smoking a whole teenth just to get a buzz, its nearly as much as i earn at work in a day and it dont add up, its alot of effort at the mo and it doesnt seem worth it as it stands now. but when SWIY remember what it could be like? thats why SWIM is holding out....please sort us out turkey!!(they make the best gear).

[RDP]

Originally Posted by BrownStreakRailroad

yes SWImickeybee....SWIM has been on the scene in the UK for 12 years now, and SWIM has lived in most of the major cities in the UK at some point or another including Liverpool, London, Birmingham, Bristol etc...SWIM started using in the mid 90's and it was just after the jungle techno era when there seemed to be a huge flooding of the market of heroin, the previous flood was in the 80's but the ecstasy days had taken over to some extent and the heroin scene became big again at the time SWIM started using. in those days SWIY only got 0.1g for a bag, but that actually had an effect as the gear was much stronger then! it wouldnt touch the sides now. SWIM remembers huge crowds of people waiting for a dealer which SWIM does not see these days, like 30-50 people or so in a subway or back alley! SWIM is not sure about how many new kids will come on the scene, especially as the situation in the UK has been so bad since last may, it must be off putting to a new starter?? but the scene has definatley changed as has the quality, but to be fair until last may, the UK had always had shit hot supply and the prices had more than halved in the time SWIM has been using!! thought it would remain the same, as it had for 11 years, but it is a diabolical situation now!! SWIM is just using methadone at the minute as SWIM has had enough of smoking a whole teenth just to get a buzz, its nearly as much as i earn at work in a day and it dont add up, its alot of effort at the mo and it doesnt seem worth it as it stands now. but when SWIY remember what it could be like? thats why SWIM is holding out....please sort us out turkey!!(they make the best gear).

SWIM also remembers the days of huge gatherings waiting to get. Seems like there are more people spread out now, rather than one main man who everyone relied on. SWIM has been lucky recently, having lived at both ends of the country, there has always been someone with stuff that really rocks - although stories have been heard by SWIM of people having really tainted nasty stuff. Black tar has also become much more common in SWIM's experience, which was never seen here until about 12 months ago - and while it looks like soemthing that should come out of a dog's arse, it is very strong and nice.

[BrownStreakRailroad]

Black Tar in the UK??? SWIM has never heard of it here...SWIM figured it was only really available on the west coast of america and mexico but SWIM actually hopes that some enterprising individuals or groups will look elsewhere in the world for a supply, some south east asian shit would be lovely even if the prices were increased!!!dreamin'. but yeah SWIM thinks there maybe more dealers spread out more nowadays and also most of SWIM's dealers now deliver to SWIM's door pretty quickly whereas years ago if SWIY were getting a drop, it could have took hours!!, but talking of a changing scene, if black tar is available here....thats gotta be sayin' somethin'!!

[420Shark210SanAnto]

Originally Posted by BrownStreakRailroad

Black Tar in the UK??? SWIM has never heard of it here...SWIM figured it was only really available on the west coast of america and mexico but SWIM actually hopes that some enterprising individuals or groups will look elsewhere in the world for a supply, some south east asian shit would be lovely even if the prices were increased!!!dreamin'. but yeah SWIM thinks there maybe more dealers spread out more nowadays and also most of SWIM's dealers now deliver to SWIM's door pretty quickly whereas years ago if SWIY were getting a drop, it could have took hours!!, but talking of a changing scene, if black tar is available here....thats gotta be sayin' somethin'!!

Apparently from what SWIM heard on the news there has been an influx of south/central american dope into europe, mainly through london and amsterdam. SWIM wouldn't know this since he lives in Texas, and it seems like taking it overseas to europe would be too much hassle considering they can just bring it into the US much easier and sell it for the same prices. Perhaps its less refined dope from afghanistan?

[Junkhead23]

There seems to be less outlets in SWIMs area at the moment and the quality has taken a real nose dive. It seems that they get a good batch that doesnt last 5 minutes et they get a poor batch that lasts for weeks on end. It angers SWIM greatly because SWIM thinks r getting the good shit n ur not

Peace

[mickey_bee]

Originally Posted by Junkhead23

There seems to be less outlets in SWIMs area at the moment and the quality has taken a real nose dive. It seems that they get a good batch that doesnt last 5 minutes et they get a poor batch that lasts for weeks on end. It angers SWIM greatly because SWIM thinks r getting the good shit n ur not

Peace

aye, same here, for financial reasons plus the shit floating about, swim went off to piss in a tube again today, he just can't be arsed with this shite anymore.
Although as soon as it get's better and he has money he'll no doubt fall back into it.

[Junkhead23]

Thats exactly it. SWIY think that SWIY will never do it again and all this then SWIY get a little cash and its back down the rocky road again.

[BrownStreakRailroad]

so true!!! SWIY have all good intentions, but SWIM knows as soon as it's payday....SWIM will most definatley be scorin'!! don't think there's much point in trying to convince SWIM-self that payday will go any other way! but to be fair SWIM hasn't smoked for two weeks now and SWIM feels pretty good, infact the best that SWIM has felt for a good few years! it's just so hard to stay off though!! wish it could be as easy as it was for sickboy from trainspotting.....

[exclubber6969]

its the same for swiy ,been doing now for 14 years and the scene has changed big time, sway remembers the time standing in a ally with up to 30 odd other ppl!!! and sway had a few numbers for luton, now sway has 2 numbers???? but the qualitiy has just got a lot better(like back in the day) but for ur 20 ur getting under a tenners worth so u cant win!!!!!!!!!

[mickey_bee]

Up until the end of last year swim had a contact in manchester who was properly old school.
On from 8/9am right through till 12/1am, every single day. Whenever you rang him he'd just give you a location, and sure enough, when you got there there'd be sometimes 20-30 people standing around looking dodgy.
His shit was always the best in the area too, and constant sizes and deals.

Man swim misses proper organised, big-business dealers, with armies of runners......grrrrrakjalkfas!!

[scuzzbagz]

I read theyve recently been making seizures of the white no.4 gear in turkey that was destined for europe/uk,as theyve started making it in afghanistan as well as the brown gear,and as its easier for colombia and mexico to export to the usa,we wont get any significant amounts of tar or colombian heroin any time soon,but it'd be nice to get a choice of gear for once,as well as an increase in purity and drops in prices wouldnt it?!!!