Blood and syringes. Sassari's historic center is once again filled with evidence of heroin use, which has been on the rise recently and has affected victims across a wide demographic spectrum.

In recent days, an overdose death has raised alarm bells, while signs of addiction abound right within the confines of Sassari Vecchia, especially in the streets of San Cristoforo, La Marmora, and Cesare Mastino.

In addition to the cases of men and women who, day and night, experience the consequences of taking the drug, suffering from withdrawal symptoms. "The method of use is similar to that of crack; heroin is smoked and/or inhaled," says Marco Ladu, head of the Mondo X Sardegna association's Reception Center. It's also clear that drug users are largely concentrated in the historic center, but are also distributed throughout other areas of the region.

"And there's no longer a stereotype of drug users; it could be a lawyer or an unemployed person, but there are many profiles." People attracted by prices that, in some cases, can be affordable. "A gram sells for 50 euros, and the average dose weighs about a quarter of a gram," Ladu recalls. Like all markets, there's also competition among pushers who try to "build customer loyalty" by cutting the product with equally harmful additives, to the point of handing out sachets for 5 euros.

The consequences of the underselling are there for all to see, especially at night when the city, in certain areas, sees a constant flow of these sales and those living in the historic center experience the drama of drug addiction firsthand, amidst sleepless nights and fear.

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