have now tripled and it ’ s having an impact on families . While some people may have it as a one-off energy booster – like a cup of coffee – when it begins to affect someone ’ s day-to-day life is when they need help . We want to make sure people understand the addictive nature of poppy seeds and know that there is support available .
When opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan plunged by an estimated 95 per cent following the Taliban ’ s 2022 ban it led to a drastic drop in the availability of
Dilesh Popat working on awareness training at Turning Point ’ s Leicester headquarters
heroin alongside an increased demand for other drugs , including poppy seeds . Unwashed poppy seeds are widely available , often in large quantities , and sold in retail outlets across Leicester . They are also easy to buy online .
Local shops sell ground poppy seeds in containers for around £ 20- £ 30 , but some clients have told us the cost has increased to £ 70 - £ 100 in some shops . As a result , we ’ ve seen a lot more people come to us with addiction issues as it ’ s costing them hundreds of pounds a week and affecting their family lives .
We ’ re also seeing the powder form of the drug that ’ s made from the milky latex of the poppy being sold under the counter . Not only is this illegal , it is significantly more potent than poppy seeds and more likely to be cut with other substances . We ’ re hearing that batch strength varies from shop to shop , with clients telling us products from some shops leave them with stronger aftereffects such as drowsiness and headaches , and the presence of nitazenes in the drug supply is an increasing concern .
While we suspect the ground forms of both the poppy seeds and the milky latex are sometimes adulterated with paracetamol or sleeping tablets , we don ’ t know if synthetic opioids are ever
present . We advise the people we support to buy poppy pods and grind them themselves , to ensure it hasn ’ t been mixed with any other substance .
Research into the ground poppy seed supply is needed to understand exactly what is being put into this commonly available substance , so we can offer informed harm-reduction advice to the public .
Poppy seeds can be just as addictive as any other opiate , and physical and psychological dependence can develop quickly . We prescribe the same for poppy seeds as we would for somebody using heroin – either buprenorphine or methadone . Buprenorphine has been well tolerated and serves as an effective treatment option for the clients we ’ ve worked with – it also offers flexibility in dose reduction , with 0.4 mg increments supporting a structured detoxification process . In our experience of working with clients prescribed
HARMINDER ’ S STORY
Harminder ( not his real name ) is a builder based in Leicester . He started using poppy seeds in Punjab , where he said everyone uses it even though it ’ s considered shameful in the Sikh community to use drugs . His usage escalated when he moved to the UK five years ago – he said it was so easily available that he used to buy the seeds from Asian florists . When he first started taking poppy seeds , he felt powerful and it would give him the strength to get through the day ’ s work . After a while , however , it started having less of an effect , which led to him increasing the amount he took on a daily basis .
methadone , however , we ’ ve found that reducing poppy seed use can be particularly challenging . Many struggle to decrease their reliance on poppy seeds while on methadone , and in some cases their poppy seed use actually increases alongside their methadone intake . This pattern can create a cycle of dependence that becomes difficult to break , and clients have also frequently reported that methadone makes them feel drowsy and sluggish , which leads them to seek additional stimulation – including continued or increased use of poppy seeds .
All the clients we ’ ve supported for addiction to poppy seeds have so far been men . We do know that
Harminder was spending around £ 70 a week on poppy seeds , would struggle to wake up in the morning to go to work , and was constantly having to find ways to hide his use from his wife .
He was spending around £ 70 a week on poppy seeds and it started impacting his family and work life . He would struggle to wake up in the morning to go to work , and was constantly having to find ways to hide his use from his wife .
A friend recommended him to Turning Point , where he was prescribed buprenorphine and given regular support over the phone and in person to slowly reduce his usage . He ’ s now been abstinent for almost 18 months .
Harminder says he knows many colleagues and members of his community who are struggling with poppy seeds . He believes it should be given the same priority as heroin when it comes to raising awareness of its dangers and the support available . women also use it , but the stigma and shame of women engaging in treatment services – especially in the south Asian community – is a significant barrier .
There ’ s a big drinking culture within the Punjabi Sikh community . However , baptised Sikhs are prohibited from consuming alcohol or any drugs , making it a taboo subject . This presents a major challenge – it ’ s the reason why people are reluctant to talk about the issue of poppy seeds publicly , or seek support from recovery services .
Dilesh Popat is national diverse communities lead and Sadaf Akhtar is advanced practitioner diverse communities at Turning Point
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