A wave of revulsion swept across social media after Angus families posted horrifying evidence of drug abuse taking place on their doorsteps.
Shocking images of discarded hypodermic needles, spatters of blood, tinfoil and paraphernalia for the abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) circulated on Facebook after one eight-year-old came across the sight outside his Arbroath home.
This was joined by posts from nearby householders in the town’s Timmergreens area – prompting a social media backlash.
Kim Clark’s son came across five needles and an array of paraphernalia, along with sprays of blood consistent with intravenous injection, and wrappers associated with NPS.
She said: “I’m so glad I gave him a talk on never touching needles and to tell an adult.
“One of the wrappers had a colourful clown on it (and) could have made him inquisitive.”
Local campaigners have said they are “horrified” at the spread of extreme abuse of the substances.
In March 2014 The Courier revealed how practises commonly associated with heroin use had spread to Dundee.
This was followed by the publication of case studies which established users are taking greater risks with their health by using double-width needles to stop NPS coagulating in the syringe.
For more on this story, including local reaction, see tomorrow’s Courier.