NCJ Number
122783
Date Published
1989
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This report updates the information provided in "Drug Abuse and Crime in the District of Columbia" (1987) and provides additional data and information that collectively portrays drug abuse and crime in the area.
Abstract
An analysis of indicators of illicit drug use, including overdose deaths, emergency drug mentions, urinalysis test results, drug arrests, prosecution and conviction data, and drug treatment data indicate that the problem is getting worse, especially for the criminal justice population. Data on overdose deaths and emergency room drug mentions indicate that cocaine use has increased while heroin and PCP use has declined. A record number of drug arrests were made in 1986, but they have declined in the past 2 years. Among juvenile arrestees, however, there has been a significant increase in arrests for drug sales, especially for cocaine and heroin. Prosecutions and convictions for drug offenses continue to rise, and the increased drug activity has contributed to a rise in violent crime. Of a record number of homicides (369), 80 percent were drug-related. The majority of adult arrestees testing positive for drug use were age 31 or younger, male, black, and single. Admissions for drug treatment have increased dramatically since 1984. Findings from a survey of District residents indicate that illicit drugs, along with other crime problems, are the most urgent neighborhood concerns. 8 figures, 26 tables.