NCJ Number
201398
Date Published
January 2004
Length
321 pages
Annotation
Information on drug markets and chronic drug users in 25 of America's largest cities encompasses emerging drugs, new routes of administration, varying use patterns, the changing demand for treatment, drug-related criminal activity, drug markets, and shifts in supply and distribution patterns.
Abstract
The four drugs of serious concern are marijuana, heroin, crack cocaine/powder cocaine, and methamphetamine. This report also continues to monitor the problems of "ecstasy" (MDMA), the diversion and abuse of OxyContin, and other drugs being used in the 25 cities. This report contains information collected in two waves, during December 2002 through January 2003 and March through May 2003. Data were collected through telephone conversations with 97 sources who represented the 25 cities in various regions of the Nation. These contacts discussed their perceptions of the drug abuse situation during the fall months of 2002 compared to 6 months earlier. Findings indicate that marijuana and crack are the illicit drugs most easily purchased by users and undercover police across the country. They are followed in order by heroin, ecstasy, powder cocaine, methamphetamine, and diverted OxyContin. Marijuana remains the country's most widely abused illicit drug, and crack remains a serious problem in 18 cities. Methamphetamine is reported as an emerging or intensifying problem in 15 cities. Sources in 18 cities do not believe their communities have any emerging drug problems. Ecstasy continues to emerge or intensify as a problem in 16 cities. Information on treatment issues addresses methadone treatment availability, referrals to drug abuse treatment, treatment for marijuana users over the past 10 years, and the impact of Proposition 36 in California. The latter act has diverted more than 37,000 people, usually those arrested for petty crimes or drug possession, into treatment. An overview of a decade of change in local drug markets addresses such issues as what is accepted instead of cash for drugs, the impact of drug marketing innovations or tools, changes in the nature of users and the market, and changes that have contributed to the widespread availability and use of marijuana. "Snapshots" are provided of the drug market and drug users in each of the 25 cities. Appended description of study methodology, population demographics in the 25 cities, data sources, and discussion areas by source type