NCJ Number
221525
Date Published
2008
Length
92 pages
Annotation
This document provides an overview of the proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) held in Philadelphia, PA on June 13-15, 2007, under the sponsorship of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Abstract
The CEWG is a unique epidemiology network that has functioned for 31 years as a drug abuse surveillance system to identify and assess current and emerging drug abuse patterns, trends, and issues, using multiple sources of information. The mission of the CEWG is to objectively monitor drug abuse trends by tracking multiple, existing data sources that document drug use and abuse indicators within and across 27 local, predominantly metropolitan areas in the United States. The CEWG convene semiannually where guest researchers and representatives present information on drug abuse patterns and trends in their areas through formal presentations, using slide presentations, graphical data, and maps. Highlights of the CEWG meeting include the following details: methamphetamine persists as a major problem in western CEWG areas; however, in 2006 for the first time in several years, there was a decrease in the escalation of methamphetamine indicators in most western areas; cocaine/crack abuse indicators increased in many CEWG areas and remained at high levels in most areas; heroin abuse indicators decreased or remained stable in the CEWG areas, and polydrug abuse patterns involving heroine were reported; marijuana remained the most widely available and used illicit drug in CEWG areas; increases in prescription drug abuse indicators were reported in several CEWG areas; MDMA (Ecstasy) abuse indicators remained at low levels; and polysubstance abuse continued to be a pervasive feature of drug use patterns across all CEWG areas. Specific drugs and drug indicators are further detailed and discussed. Exhibits, appendix, participant list