Tag: heroin

Long lost Heroin films to be shown at North Edinburgh Arts for first time in over 40 years

Heroin ‘Uncut’: The Films of Peter Carr and the Edinburgh Community Stories Behind Them

Free tickets – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heroin-uncut-the-films-of-peter-carr-tickets-1270168641599

North Edinburgh Arts presents the first screening for more than 40 years of Heroin, a series of three films by Peter Carr made in North Edinburgh in 1983.

Originally shown over successive nights on prime time national UK television, Heroin is an unflinching fly on the wall glimpse at an often forgotten part of Edinburgh’s social history.

As poverty, crime and drug use in Scotland’s capital was ripping forgotten communities apart, Peter Carr was introduced to Edinburgh’s hidden underbelly by co-founder of the Gateway Exchange, Jimmy Boyle.

Boyle also introduced Carr to SHADA – Support Help and Advice for Drug Addiction – the grassroots organisation set up by what Carr calls “two remarkable women” – Heather Black and Morag McLean – as a lifeline and support network for drug users.

This became the basis of Heroin, which over its three episodes reveals a powerful and moving portrait of a community surviving in the face of institutional neglect and contempt from local authorities who would rather keep it out of view.

After four decades, Peter Carr revisits North Edinburgh for the screenings of his films to take part in a unique event by, for and about North Edinburgh.

Each screening will be followed by a conversation between key figures around the making of Heroin and those around North Edinburgh then and now.

Heroin ‘Uncut’ – The Films of Peter Carr and the Edinburgh Community Stories Behind Them

North Edinburgh Arts

MacMillan Hub

12c MacMillan Square

Edinburgh EH4 4AB

Heroin 1 followed by Irvine Welsh in conversation with ZoëBlack – April 23 – 6.30-8.30pm.

Heroin 2 followed by Dr Roy Robertson in conversation with Victoria Burns – April 24 – 6.30-8.30pm. 

Heroin 3 followed by Peter Carr in conversation with Sarah Drummond – April 25 – 6.30-8.30pm.

Running time of each film is 50 minutes, followed by a short break and discussion.

Free tickets – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heroin-uncut-the-films-of-peter-carr-tickets-1270168641599

Age 16 and over.

An exhibition of production images from Heroin by Granada TV stills photographer Stewart Darby runs at North Edinburgh Arts alongside Heroin ‘Uncut’, from April 23 to May 17 2025.

A programme for Heroin ‘Uncut’ features a new essay by Peter Carr reflecting on the making of his films alongside Stewart Darby’s images from Heroin.

Heroin ‘Uncut’ is coordinated and produced by Zoë Black, Victoria Burns, Neil Cooper, Sarah Drummond, Graham Fitzpatrick and Kate Wimpress in collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts and Screen Education Edinburgh.

With thanks to Laura Alderman, Alice Betts and Genevieve Kay-Gourlay at North Edinburgh Film Festival, Willie Black, Jimmy Boyle, Morvern Cunningham, Freda Darby and the Darby family, Malcolm Dickson at Street Level Photoworks, Laura Hoffman, Judith Jones and Stephen Kelly at granadaland.org, Jordan at ITV plc, Alan McCredie, Dr. Roy Robertson, Emma Welsh, Irvine Welsh, Bob Winton.

Special thanks to all staff, volunteers and board members of North Edinburgh Arts and Screen Education Edinburgh who made this event happen.       

Extra special thanks to Peter Carr.

Heroin was originally produced by Granada Television and screened on the ITV network on November 7th, 8thand 9th1983. All films and photographs are sole copyright of ITV plc, and are shown under licence.

Heroin ‘Uncut’ is dedicated to the memory of Heather Black, Morag McLean and all those friends, neighbours and loved ones who took part in the Heroin films. Though they may no longer be with us, their stories live on.

Man charged following City Bypass drugs seizure

At round 6.30pm on Monday (7 June), Police Scotland Officers acting on intelligence stopped a Volkswagen van on the A720, Edinburgh city bypass at Old Craighall.

During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a large quantity of heroin and cocaine as well as mixing/bulking agents.

The drugs have an estimated combined street value of £73,000. A 47-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the recovery and is due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday 9 June).

A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Worst in Europe: Scotland’s drug deaths rise to new record high

The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland increased by 6%, from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019, representing the highest number since records began in 1996, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland today.

Other key findings show that of all drug-related deaths in 2019:

  • Nearly 7 in 10 were male.
  • Over two thirds were aged 35 – 54.
  • Three-quarters occurred in the following five health board areas: 404 in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 163 in Lanarkshire, 155 in Lothian, 118 in Tayside and 108 in Ayrshire & Arran.
  • Heroin and morphine were implicated in more deaths than in any previous year, and over half of the total.

Three-quarters of the deaths occurred in five health board areas. Greater Glasgow and Clyde had 404 deaths, Lanarkshire 163, Lothian 155, Tayside 118 and Ayrshire and Arran 108.

Scotland’s drug-death rate was higher than those reported for all the EU countries, and was approximately 3½ times that of the UK as a whole.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services said: “2019 saw the highest number of registered drug related deaths in Scotland since reporting began over 20 years ago. The figure of 1,264 deaths is an increase of 77 on 2018.”

 Edinburgh the number of drug related deaths has risen by 1, from 95 to 96; in East Lothian the number of drug related deaths has remained the same at 18, in West Lothian the number of drug related deaths dropped by 2 from 25 to 23 and in Midlothian the number of drug related deaths has risen from by 4 from 14 to 18.  

In the last 10 years the number of drug related deaths has more than doubled in Lothian from 73 deaths in 2010 to 155 deaths in 2019.

The number of drug related deaths from heroin in Lothian has risen from 56 in 2018 to 69 in 2019.

Drug related deaths from Benzodiazepine rose from 94 in 2018 to 109 in 2019, with “street” Benzodiazepine drug related deaths rising from 69 to 85, of which Etizolam rose from 42 to 72.

Drug related deaths from cocaine rose from 51 in 2018 to 62 in 2019 and the number of alcohol related deaths dropped from 25 in 2018 to 22 in 2019.  

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Every single drug death in Scotland is a tragedy and it is deeply concerning that the number of drug related deaths has risen year on year.

“Cuts to drug rehab beds and addiction programmes by SNP Ministers have been counterproductive in reducing drug related deaths in Scotland.

“The Scottish Conservatives have called on a £20 million Scottish Recovery Fund, to shift the focus from methadone prescriptions to drug rehabilitation programmes.

“SNP Ministers have failed to prevent people from using drugs in Edinburgh and the Lothian’s or to support people off drugs if they have become addicted.”

Statistics on deaths caused by volatile substances and helium have also been published today.

The publication Drug-related deaths in Scotland, 2019 and an infographic summary is available on the NRS website.