A former industrial town in the North East famous for its contribution to the invention of the railway locomotive is sadly now on the wrong track as the streets are flooded with a cheap deadly drug from China. Stockton-on-Tees, in County Durham, was a key location during Britain's Industrial Revolution and the town saw the world's first passenger train journey, on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in 1825.

But fast forward 200 years and sadly some local people are being drawn towards an altogether different ride thanks to a drug from China which can cost as little as £1 for a tablet. Zopiclone, known on the street as 'Zimmers', can be prescribed legally by doctors for insomnia. But the substance, which produces a feeling of euphoria and tranquility, can also be purchased online and has become a go-to drug for addicts in China.

Now huge quantities of the drug are arriving on the streets of Britain and Stockton-on-Tees is now on the front line of a war the police are now waging to protect the public. The Zopiclone sold online is often mixed with other cheaper, and potentially lethal, ingredients.

According to the Sun, last year one person died and seven others were taken to hospital in the town in June last year when they took zimmers which were likely mixed with other potentially harmful ingredients. 

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said at the time "...police received reports of seven adults having been taken to North Tees General Hospital".

The added: "They are all believed to be suffering the effects of a drug called Zopiclone. Officers are warning drug users of a potentially contaminated batch which could cause significant illness or lead to an overdose."

NHS figures show Stockton had the highest number of drug-related deaths in the North East between 2020 and 2021, with 123 people dying over the same period in Stockton, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough combined. 

One addict who spoke to the Sun said: "I tried Zopiclone...now I am addicted to crack cocaine. People in Stockton are addicted to all sorts. The streets are riddled with contaminated drugs. They are all over.

"I used to live in Hartlepool but it is worse in Stockton."

Another drug user told the paper: "I am a slave to crack cocaine, Zopiclone and Pregabalins. I get my drugs from the same person in China. I have them posted, and I know it is good stuff.

"If people pay cheap prices, they are going to get s***. It's like anything. If you pay more you get better product."

Mohammed Anwar, who runs a local convenience store in the town, told The Sun: "Kids as young as 12 years old come into the shop and are high."