NCJ Number
157822
Date Published
1991
Length
495 pages
Annotation
At the 29th meeting of the Community Epidemiology Work (CEWG) group in December 1990, the 20 representatives reported on current drug abuse patterns and trends in their cities.
Abstract
Although cocaine remains the most serious drug of concern, recent health indicator data suggest a continuing decline throughout most of the CEWG network. In all areas except Atlanta, Newark, and St. Louis, emergency room mentions declined over the year. The sharpest declines occurred in Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, and Seattle. Cocaine-related and heroin-related deaths have a mixed trend. Approximately five methadone/propoxyphene deaths per quarter are recorded in Seattle. Methadone ranks fourth among New York drug emergency room mentions. Marijuana ranks second among drug emergency room mentions in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and New Orleans. Stimulant abuse is most evident in the western region and in Dallas, but declines are apparent. Tricyclic antidepressants continue to be detected in some Detroit heroin and cocaine deaths. PCP- related death reports have declined in Los Angeles and San Francisco; PCP-related emergency room mentions have continued to decline sharply in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago and more moderately in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Figures and tables