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Police are not issuing any public warnings of unexpected harm at present following unconfirmed reports of an unusual batch of heroin in the island.
Dr Rebecca Tidy, an experienced social researcher and journalist who has written extensively on public health, drugs and organised crime, said last week that "a big batch of exceptionally low-purity heroin" was circulating among local users of the drug.
"Lots of people say they're literally smoking 0.5 grams to get even slightly high, despite having no tolerance to the drug as it's rarely available locally," said Dr Tidy.
Express asked Police whether they were aware - and received the following response:
"If Guernsey Police, Guernsey Border Agency or any of our partners across the States become aware of a particularly dangerous or strong strain of an illegal drug, then we would always consider issuing a public warning to help prevent any unnecessary harm in the community.
"It is, however, always dangerous to take any kind of illegal drug as you never know what they may contain.
"If anyone has information or concerns about batches of drugs circulating in the Bailiwick, they are asked to contact Police directly on 01481 222222."
Pictured: Police did not comment directly on claims of "low-purity heroin" in the island, but said they would consider warning about "dangerous or strong strains of an illegal drug".
Dr Tidy said she was sharing her concerns publicly because of the risk of someone using a higher quantity of the drug in Guernsey and then trying to do the same outside the island.
"I'm not saying this to snitch. I'm saying this because anyone from Guernsey who smokes 0.5g of heroin in England will probably overdose and become very ill or die," she said.
"It's £50+ for 0.1g of shit brown powder in Guernsey. You'd get at least 0.5g of potent heroin for £50 in England.
"Though heavily-enforced drug prohibition is often well-intended, it means people pay more for low-purity drugs.
"They subsequently overdose while on holiday in neighbouring jurisdictions where drugs are strong and prices are low, e.g. a Guernsey resident recently died in Holland."
Pictured: Guernsey's drug laws were under the spotlight in the States again earlier this year when deputies backed a review of the legal status of cannabis despite the objections of the President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, Deputy Al Brouard (inset, left), and the President of the Committee for Home Affairs, Deputy Rob Prow (inset, right).
"In the summer 2021, a heavily-pregnant young mum of a toddler was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after supplying 69g of cannabis to friends at a Guernsey house party," said Dr Tidy.
"The woman’s jail term began a fortnight before she was due to give birth. She then had four days to bond with her newborn before being returned to prison childfree as Les Nicolles doesn't have a mother-and-baby unit.
"There's no doubt that forcibly removing a newborn baby and toddler from their mother is hugely traumatic for both the mum and child with lifelong consequences for physical and mental health. But when you take into account that this was a first-time drug supply offence – of a few ounces of a Class B substance – it raises the question of whether this custodial sentence can ever be considered proportionate or just."
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