Class A drugs play "Russian roulette" with lives every time they are taken and are "absolutely wicked", a court heard.
A judge made the comments as he sentenced 22-year-old Trevan Dickson for possessing heroin with intent to supply.
Dickson was convicted after trial of the charge which involved 10 wraps of the drug found in St Ann's in April 2019.
Dickson learned his fate before Recorder Michael Auty QC at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, March 4.
He told him in the dock: "Class A drugs, as you must know, are absolutely wicked. Every time you take them, every time anyone takes them, you play Russian roulette with your life."
He said although there were 10 wraps of the drug in this case, there was nothing else to indicate that he was pushing the drug.
He also said: "The reality is your upbringing was absolutely wretched in in so many ways".
Dickson, of Bridge Farm Lane, Clifton, received a two-year suspended prison sentence, and 200 hours of unpaid work, "to mark society's displeasure at this type of offending behaviour and to make sure you are not left idle to your devices", said the judge.
20 rehabilitation days have to be done by Dickson.
