NCJ Number
167891
Date Published
1997
Length
51 pages
Annotation
This 1997 overview reports on the use and distribution of illicit drugs in various areas of the country and is based on interviews with drug researchers, law enforcement officials, and substance abuse treatment providers nationwide.
Abstract
This report provides information on drug usage for four major drugs: heroin, marijuana, cocaine, and emerging drugs. Findings for heroin use include: increased popularity of the drug has reached most areas of the country, with high-purity amounts available in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and the West; an increase in the number of new, young users; low-purity Mexican black tar heroin is found primarily in the Southwest Border region, leading to an increase in injection drug use; the decrease in the price of heroin has led to crack cocaine users switching to heroin as their primary drug of choice; and the joint distribution of heroin and cocaine continues to rise. The findings for cocaine include: the use of crack is stable and it remains the dominant drug of choice in most markets; the price of the drug is dropping in most areas but this has had no effect on the drugs continued drop in popularity; and cocaine use in powdered form has reappeared in some areas. The findings for marijuana include: the drug continues to be widely abused, especially among young people; an increase has been seen in the use of marijuana mixed with other drugs, such as PCP, crack, or heroin; and treatment providers report that one-third of all clients in for marijuana abuse are under 20 years old, and 75 percent of them have co-occurring problems with alcohol. The findings for emerging drugs include: methamphetamine use continues to rise in the West and Southwest and in Hawaii, with users mostly White males in their twenties; the use of club drugs continues to increase in many areas; and inhalant abuse is increasing among young people. Tables and appendix