NCJ Number
196586
Date Published
June 2001
Length
403 pages
Annotation
At the 50th meeting of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) (June 12-15, 2001), 21 CEWG representatives reported on current drug trends and patterns in U.S. cities, as well as drug trends over the past 25 years; this second volume of the two-volume report is based on these reports of drug trends and patterns in each of the 21 cities.
Abstract
To assess drug abuse patterns and trends, city- and State-specific data were collected and compiled from a variety of health and other drug abuse indicator sources. Reports are presented for Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Texas, and the District of Columbia. For the 21 cities, cocaine indicators suggest mixed trends. Cocaine mortality data showed increases in six areas and declines in four. Emergency department (ED) mentions showed increases generally in western cities and declines generally in northeastern cities. Heroin indicators continued to increase or remained stable at elevated levels. Mortality figures increased or were stable, except in San Francisco and Seattle, where they declined. After increasing in all CEWG areas between 1990 and 1998, marijuana indicators began stabilizing in 1999 and 2000 in most areas. Methamphetamine remained concentrated in the west and in some rural areas elsewhere. After declining for the past 2 years in the west, indicators showed increasing or stable trends. Club drugs were typically used by youth in nightclub, rave, or college settings and involved multisubstance abuse. Ecstasy and GHB continued to show increases in most CEWG areas; ketamine showed mixed trends, and flunitrazepam continued to show declines. Ecstasy continued to increase in nearly every CEWG city. PCP ED mentions increased in most areas, but ED mentions of LSD showed mostly declining trends. The illicit use of opiates such as oxycodone and hydrocodone continued to increase in CEWG areas. Infectious diseases related to drug abuse are also discussed. International reports are provided for Canada, Mexico, Asia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Southern Africa.