Woman spotted licking methadone from pavement in front of child

This photo showing a woman licking methadone from apavement as a child looks on has sparked fury. The photograph was taken by a stunned onlooker outside Edinburgh’s Wester Hailes shopping centre after the woman dropped the heroin substitute. The woman, in her 30s, had gone to a chemist for her weekly prescription for methadone.

She was accompanied by her friend and a young girl. She was on her way home when she dropped the liquid. She then kneeled down and licked it from the dirty pavement. The image has sparked outrage in the area, where the woman is a well-known addict.



Mother-of-four Debbie Notman, 28, said: “People are disgusted anyone would do this in front of a child. My pal took the photo on Saturday. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. She was so oblivious she didn’t even notice the picture was being taken.”

Campaigners say the woman needs help and should not be vilified. John Arthur, director of Edinburgh drugs group Crew 2000, said: “Addicts can go to extraordinary lengths to get their substances due to the cravings they can experience. This is surely deserving of compassion rather than ridicule.”