To think this is a sign of drug use?

[Pikawhoo]

(Sorry, bit yucky/grim).

... drops of blood in the communal stairwell?

It's a regular occurrence. We live in a side bit of a council block, with a set of stairs that just lead up to our flat but are connected to a main stairwell. In recent weeks, I've often opened the door to find a homeless person (rarely ever the same person) sleeping on the landing just below.

There are also often these inexplicable drops of blood on the communal stairs and the walls, just like 2 or 3 drops.

Is this a sign that somebody is shooting up there?

I'm probably a bit naive but this was the only explanation I could think of, and it makes me feel really funny and unsafe about the people sleeping on my stairs.

(Also... what do I do about it? It's a closed building that you should only be able to get into with a key fob or by being buzzed in, but it's obviously pretty easy for anyone to slip in after a resident).

[justilou]

Possibly is - or these poor homeless people have weeping sores. Either way potentially dangerous for you and kids. Complain to everyone you can think of. Dailyfail would love this.

[LurkingHusband]

If it is, they'r doing it wrong ....

[BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted]

Yes, it could be.

No-one relishes the thought of strangers camping outside their front door.

I'd get in touch with your housing officer at the council and see what they have say.

[Pikawhoo]

Thanks, bitter. I'm not sure who to contact as I rent privately (rather than through the council) but hopefully there might be somebody there who can help.

I feel bad because everyone I've seen out there has been incredibly polite and kind (to the point of helping me with my buggy) but I really don't like the idea of hard drugs.

[DementedUnicorn]

Sores?
Bleeding gums and spitting?
Nose bleeds

The man could have God knows what's wrong with him. Just because he's homeless doesn't necessarily means drugs. Don't touch or lick it and your problem is solved.

[MothersGrim]

Someone coughing blood?

[Birdsgottafly]

It can be that they've got something like TB and are coughing a lot, or coughing up blood for a variety of reasons.

Do you have s local charity that checks on "Street Sleepers"? The best thing would be to contact them.

[SaucyJack]

Could be self-harm due to MH problems?

Chase up security with whichever council owns the building, and ignore anyone on this thread who tries to make you feel bad because you don't want someone sleeping on your doorstep.

(Unless they've personally opened a homeless shelter in their garden shed obv.)

[BillSykesDog]

I have been in this exact situation. If someone is shooting up in your stairwell (and it sounds like they are) then in all likelihood someone in your flats is dealing but won't let their customers shoot up in there so they're doing it in the hall.

Have you seen any other signs like balls of foil? The people you've seen may not be homeless, but sleeping off the after effects of the drugs. I would tell your landlord and 101. If someone is at the level of selling injectibles it's highly likely that they're already on the police radar.

I know you will get the normal right on souls on here who will tell you that you should put up and shut up because they like to signal their own virtue and would personally be rolling out the welcome wagon for any down and out who fancied a kip in their hall bullshit. But from my own experience, especially if drugs are involved, it will only get worse with thefts and violence. People addicted to hard drugs are desperate and do desperate things, that's just the way it is.

It does sound exactly like what I saw at the beginning living somewhere hard drugs were being sold, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's what you're dealing with.

[EveOnline2016]

Next time you see someone sleeping on the landing phone the police.

Worse case they get arrested and have a safe place to sleep for the night and a meal in the morning.

You shouldn't have to deal with this.

[Pikawhoo]

Thanks guys.

Sorry about the gross detail here! It's definitely not the kind of blood you'd cough up, it's just one or two little drips every time. It might be nose bleeds but I can't think why somebody would regularly come up to my stairs (private, don't go anywhere else except our flat) in order to have a very small private nose bleed.

It also seems to be lots of different people hanging around, rather than just one or two of the same people, which is what was making me wonder if it's a sign of hard drugs.

I have really nice immediate neighbours but I think BillSykesDog is probably right about there being a dealer elsewhere in the building (that would explain a lot of the random people sitting on the stairs, and also how they get in) and if that is the case I definitely want to report it to somebody.

[Pikawhoo]

I don't mind if somebody's just sleeping on our landing, I feel really terrible that they would have to. But I find the idea of people on drugs outside my front door a bit scary, especially when I live here alone with my little one.

[Happyinthehazeofadrunkenhour]

Well said billsykesdog. Hope you get this sorted soon OP.

[aLeopardanditsSpots]

Yes it does sound like drug use. You need to report to your landlord the council and 101 in the morning and everytime you see someone sleeping out there.
You really don't want addicts hanging around outside your front door it's not safe for you or little one plus that blood could be infected with anything.

[Stevefromstevenage]

Yep BillSykes has said it all. I think it is a fairly good guess that there is a dealer in your building. I would phone the police, council etc anytime there was an issue.

[x2boys]

Hi op i live on a council estate well housing association now as the council sold all their council stock tp the housing association i spotted a used needle in one of the gutters i wasent very impressed either my housing association gave me the number of the needle exchange who removed it i would contact the council or housing association and see what they say.

[Pikawhoo]

Yeuch (@ HorraceTheOtter's description, particularly! But thank you for telling me, this fits what I've seen)

Ok, will do.

Thanks very much everyone.

[Pikawhoo]

Not at all Horrace, I kind of wanted to know even though I didn't... curiosity, cat, etc 😂

[user1473106504]

most likely, can be wounds from injections or bleeding nose

[MetalPetal86]

When addicts used to use my stairwell to shoot up (central Edinburgh) years ago they very often left tinfoil around but i nevery found any needles. I walked in upon them many a time shooting up. It was quite scary although none of them were rude but it is very intimidating. I think you need to get the council involved as it can't be pleasant to have to negotiate addicts and rough sleepers on your way to the shops and there are more appropriate places for them to access help.

[backtowork2015]

They mix it with their own blood??! So they then need to insert the needle twice to inject it back in? I am aghast, why don't they use some water?

[Notsoslimshady]

Horrace are you sure about that?

[aLeopardanditsSpots]

I thought they use silica water? If that's a thing I might have made that up. Comes in little capsules but I guess you would have to be organised enough to get hold of it from needle exchange or wherever.
I found needles right beside a school once. It was a half term but I called the council and they were there within the hour to clean up.