Office of National 

Drug Control Policy 

PULSE CHECK 

National Trends in Drug Abuse 

July 1994 

Prepared by Dana Hunt, Ph.D. 

Abt Associates, Incorporated 

Under Contract to ONDCP 

Edited by Bridget A. Goodman, ONDCP 

Executive Office of the President 

Washington, DC 20500 

If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov.
Table of Contents 

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 1 

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 

Description of Sources ........................................................................................................ 4 

Ethnographic Sources ...................................................................................................... 4 

Treatment Providers (Regions 1, 2, 3, 4) ............................................................................. 4 

Police Sources ................................................................................................................ 4 

Results of the Pulse Check for June 1994 ......................................................................... 5 

Heroin ......................................................................................................................... 5 

Ethnographic Sources ........................................................................................... 5 

Treatment Providers ............................................................................................. 6 

Police Sources ..................................................................................................... 6 

Cocaine/Crack ................................................................................................................ 6 

Ethnographic Sources ........................................................................................... 6 

Treatment Providers ............................................................................................. 7 

Police Sources ..................................................................................................... 7 

Marijuana ....................................................................................................................... 7 

Ethnographic Sources ........................................................................................... 7 

Treatment Providers ............................................................................................. 8 

Police Sources ..................................................................................................... 8 

Other Emerging Drugs ......................................................................................................... 9 

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10 

Tables ..................................................................................................................................... 11 

OFFICE C)F NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Executive Summary 

The Pulse Check is a series of telephone contacts with drug ethnographers, epidemiologists, 

treatment providers, and police--persons who are 

"on the front lines" of the drug problem nationwide. It provides a current, subjective profile of 

drug use and availability in contrast to the comparatively dated, objective profile provided by surveys. 

Clearly, the Pulse Check is a complement to, not a 

substitute for, traditional data sources. The key 

findings of the results of the Pulse Check for calls 

during June 1994 follows. 

Heroin 

Heroin use and availability continue to be high 

in most areas of the Northeast and Midwest, and 

low in portions of the South and West. In areas 

where availability is high the heroin is also reported to be of high purity. The majority of heroin 

users are in their thirties or older and inject the 

drug. However, younger users (ages 21-30) in areas 

of high availability are beginning to inhale heroin. 

Heroin sellers are responding to this trend by cutting and packaging heroin for injectors and for 

inhalers in different ways. In some areas, sellers are 

also offering heroin processed for smoking. The 

practice of "speedballing" [mixing heroin and 

cocaine powder (HC1) for injection] continues to be 

popular. While treatment providers reported that 

heroin is not the primary drug of abuse for most 

clients, there have been increases in the number of 

individuals seeking treatment for primary 

heroin use. 

Cocaine 

Cocaine use has stabilized in most areas of the 

country and may even be on the decline. However, 

there continues to be a high demand for this drug, 

particularly in the form of crack. A few areas 

reported that heroin and cocaine or crack are being 

sold together in a package dubbed "one-on-one." 

Some cocaine or crack sellers are affixing "bag 

markings" to their packages, a technique common 

to the heroin trade and often seen as an indication 

of stable distributors. The demand for cocaine 

treatment is also high, although in some rural areas 

and the West the demand for alcohol and marijuana treatment surpasses that for cocaine. 

Marijuana 

Marijuana use, particularly among teenagers 

and persons in their early twenties, is reportedly up 

in almost every city and area. Marijuana is sometimes laced with other illegal substances including 

heroin, PCP, and cocaine. As a result of the 

increase.d demand for marijuana, sources reported 

an emergence of international trafficking and 

smuggling of marijuana. The variety of marijuana 

being smuggled is generally high priced and highly 

potent. While marijuana is generally a secondary 

drug to alcohol or other drugs for individuals seeking treatment, it is reported to be increasing as the 

primary drug for clients in all four regions. In fact, 

marijuana surpassed cocaine as the primary drug of 

abuse in the Midwest (region 3). 

Other Emerging Drugs 

Hallucinogens, often referred to as "club 

drugs," are increasingly popular in Atlanta and 

New York. Amphetamines are emerging as a significant problem in parts of the South and West. 

Alcohol continues to be used by nearly all illicit 

drug users. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY | 
Introduction 

In the spring of 1992, the Office of National 

Drug Control Policy directed Abt Associates to 

examine the implications of the increased availability of high quality heroin, which, at that time, was 

appearing in many areas across the country. Did 

this indicate that the U.S. was entering a new heroin epidemic as encountered in the 1970s and early 

1980s, an epidemic which produced a large cohort 

of new users in a short time span? Turning to existing data sets including the National Household 

Survey of Drug Abuse and the High School Senior 

Survey, Abt researchers found that the answer was 

still incomplete. Because these data sources are 

large annual survey efforts, they are not designed 

to quickly identify changes in drug use or the availability of drugs. Therefore, Abt Associates was 

directed to began a series of telephone contacts 

with persons around the country who were "on the 

front lines" of the drug problem, asking them about 

what they were seeing in terms of heroin use and 

distribution. These sources included drug ethnographers, epidemiologists working in the substance 

abuse field, drug treatment providers and police 

working in the area of narcotics enforcement. 

These contacts provided information that was of 

great use in understanding the current heroin situation and the issues surrounding it, so ONDCP instituted a quarterly series of such contacts and 

expanded the inquiry to include cocaine, marijuana, and other emerging drugs. 

The term used to describe these conversations 

is the "Pulse Check," because they provide a current, subjective profile of drug use and availability 

in contrast to the comparatively dated, objective 

profile provided by surveys. The data are collected 

in conversations with roughly the same group of 

ethnographers/ethnographic sources and police 

contacts each time. The sample of treatment 

providers changes somewhat each quarter, both to 

avoid undue burden on busy program operators 

and to vary the reporting. 

Clearly, the Pulse Check is a complement to, 

not a substitute for, traditional data sources. The 

sample of treatment providers is drawn from a systematic sample of programs, but the list of ethnographic and police sources is not. They are derived 

entirely from researchers and field contacts known 

to have current and accurate access to information 

about their respective areas. The conversations follow a general guideline of topics for ease in reporting, though sources frequently expand on topics 

not covered in the guide, and sometimes have no 

information to report on a topic included in the 

guidelines. 

The." following sections briefly describe each 

type of data source and summarize the results of 

the Pulse Check for the period ending in June 

1994. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 3 
Description of Sources 

Ethnographic Sources. 

Callers contact ethnographers, epidemiologists, 

and ethnographic sources from multiple urban 

areas. Ethnography is a well-established qualitative 

research technique used extensively in the drug 

research field. Unlike survey methods or highly 

structured observation methods, in ethnography 

the social scientist observes the activity "on its own 

terms;" that is, without preconceived notions about 

the behavior observed. It is important to understand, however, that this is not undercover work; 

in ethnography, the social scientist enters the 

milieu, records and describes it, but is fully 

revealed as someone doing research. 

Pennsylvania (N=1594 or 22 percent of all 

programs) 

Region 2: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, North and 

South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, 

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Delaware, 

Virginia, West Virginia, D.C. (N=1994 or 27 

percent of all programs) 

Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, 

Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota 

(N=2163 or 30 percent of all programs) 

Three types of sources comprise this group. 

Some are among the most experienced drug ethnographers in the field, working directly with drug 

users and dealers. In many other cases, they are 

researchers, often epidemiologists, who have direct 

access to ethnographic data in their area. Finally, 

some are persons working in a field site, collecting 

similar information, but not specifically trained in 

the field of ethnography. Callers attempt to contact 

sixteen sources in fourteen cities for each Pulse 

Check, though not all respondents are available in 

each quarter. For example, the data reported this 

quarter represent conversations with fifteen ethnographic sources. 

Treatment Providers. 

The sample of treatment providers is derived 

from the 1991 files of the National Drug Abuse 

Treatment Unit Survey (NDATUS). NDATUS divides 

the count W into four regions consisting of the following states: 

Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, 

Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, 

Region 4: Colorado, Montana, Utah, 

Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, California, 

Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon 

(N=1563 or 21 percent of all programs) 

Each region holds a similar number of programs, so the areas are treated equally. Currently, 

fifteen programs per region are identified each 

quarter and approximately ten are contacted, with 

the remainder serving as backups should a program choose not to respond. The sample is stratified so it has an equal nunlber of small and large 

programs. Of the cases sampled, 19 percent are 

residential programs, 59 percent outpatient, 21 percent multi-modality, and one is a detoxification 24- 

hour care program. Eighteen percent offer drug 

abuse services exclusively, and the remainder provide both alcohol and drag treatment services. 

Police Sources. 

Tile list of law enforcement sources is derived 

from recommendations by drug researchers and 

other contacts in the field. They represent officers 

working on narcotics squads, DEA special agents, 

and other special drug task force agents. 

4 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Results of the Pulse Check for June 1994 

HEROIN 

(Tables 1-3) 

Ethnographic Sources. 

Heroin use and availability continue to be high 

in most areas of the Northeast and Midwest. In 

these areas heroin is described as readily available, 

relatively inexpensive, and very pure. 

Consequently, it is in these cities that the practice 

of inhalation, made possible by the availability of 

this high purity heroin, is increasingly reported. As 

was reported last quarter, however, there are still 

areas including Tampa, Miami, San Antonio, and 

Los Angeles that report low levels of heroin use 

and little or no evidence of inhalation. Most areas 

continue to report the popular practice of "speedbailing" (mixing heroin and cocaine HC1 for injection). 

There is a clear connection between the age of 

the addict and the method of heroin ingestion. 

Traditional users in their 30s and 40s inject heroin 

while new, younger users (20-30 years old) prefer 

to inhale the drug. Furthermore, the heroin population is not changing in areas where injection is the 

sole method of use; it is increasing only in areas 

where inhalation is prevalent. This suggests that 

more education and early treatment intervention 

are needed in areas where heroin is inhaled or 

where purity is increasing. 

In Connecticut, where high purity heroin is 

widely available, the ethnographer noted that 

addicts may be both injecting and inhaling. For 

instance, older users with many collapsed veins at 

injection sites may give their veins a rest by inhaling high purity heroin for several days. These users 

then return to injection as a more efficient mode of 

administration. This practice, however, depends on 

the price and the "quality of the score" available to 

them. 

Heroin sellers vary by area, running the gamut 

from young gang members to older established 

drug connections. The most common purchase unit 

is the "dime" bag, 1/8 to 1/10 of a gram which sells 

for $10. In some areas, including New York and 

Chicago, smaller "nickel" bags ($5) are marketed. 

In Denver and Austin, the typical unit is also 1/10 

of a gram but sells for $20-25. Its nickname, 

"paper," refers to the wax paper in which the drug 

is folded. Purity is reportedly lower in the South 

and the West than in the Northeast and Midwest. 

The heroin available in Texas is primarily black 

tar or a Mexican brown (low purity) variety, 

though some Southeast Asian and Colombian (high 

puri W) heroin is also now available. However, one 

Texas source noted that the circumstances of most 

seizures of Southeast Asian or Colombian heroin 

indicate that it was destined for the Northeast 

rather than local markets. Addicts along the border 

are reported as preferring Mexican brown over 

white heroin because variation in the purity of 

Mexican brown heroin can be determined by color. 

Sources also reported that Texas heroin users may 

"cook down" black tar heroin, a unique method of 

preparation in which users liquefy the heroin and 

inhale it as "nose drops." 

In areas where the purity and quality of the 

heroin is high and the demand for snortable heroin 

is increasing, sellers are cutting and packaging 

heroin for injectors and for inhalers in different 

ways. The sellers cut heroin for inhalers with adulterants that are somewhat easier on the user's nasal 

passages than the traditional quinine cut used with 

heroin intended for injectors (first reported several 

cycles back). In effect, sellers are aware of changes 

in the demand for heroin and are modifying the 

product to appeal to the market's demands. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 5 
Some areas reported heroin being smoked. 

While heroin powder is not known to burn easily 

or effectively, there may be some extra processing 

of heroin in areas of high availability into a base 

form that is more readily smokable. For example, it 

was reported in New York that such processed 

heroin is being combined with tobacco and 

smoked in a pipe. This trend is potentially problematic and will be monitored closely in future 

Pulse Checks. 

Treatment Providers. 

Heroin is not the primary drug of abuse for 

most clients in the sample of 52 treatment 

providers contacted for this Pulse Check. However, 

in every region a significant number of treatment 

providers (17-42 percent) reported an increase in 

persons seeking treatment primarily for heroin. 

Regions 1, 3, and 4 reported that the majority (60- 

92 percent) of heroin clients are over 30, but 

Region 2 reported that the raajority of heroin 

clients are ages 21-30. Injection is still the dominant 

route of administration for heroin among users 

entering treatment, though almost half are entering 

treatment as inhalers in the high purity/availability 

areas of the Northeast. Heroin users are more likely 

to have had prior treatment experience than 

cocaine and marijuana users: 60-98 percent of 

heroin clients across all regions have been in treatment before. 

Many treatment providers, particularly those in 

more rural areas, made it clear that the primary 

drug of abuse is not heroin but alcohol. Several 

Region 4 treatment providers reported few or no 

heroin users, but large numbers of primary alcohol 

and amphetamine users. In all four regions, alcohol 

is again the number one substance linked with primary heroin use. 

Police Sources. 

Police sources all reported a continued high 

level of heroin arrests and seizures this quarter. 

They also reported that inhalation of heroin is 

increasingly popular. The demographic characteristics of heroin sellers usually match those of their 

buyers, though Maryland State Police sources noted 

the appearance of some younger sellers. 

Police reported that dime bags are the most 

common unit for heroin sales, and that gram prices 

vary from $75-300 depending on the area and purity. Purity in the dime bags also varies by area, but 

is generally high, averaging about 40 percent. 

COCAINE/CRACK 

(Tables 4-6) 

Ethnographic Sources. 

Crack cocaine and cocaine powder (HCI) use 

seems to have stabilized in most areas of the country. Some areas, including Los Angeles, San 

Francisco, Washington D.C., and New York, even 

reported declining use. Most cocaine users are 

smoking the drug in its crack form. Cocaine injectors are often persons speedballing cocaine HC1 

with heroin, rather than injecting cocaine alone. 

Injectors are more likely to be older males, while 

crack smokers are more likely to be young and are 

increasingly female. In East Texas, a practice of dissolving crack in lemon juice or vinegar, then injecting it, was reported. 

Ethnographers reported that cocaine users who 

inhale and smoke are not as likely to be using 

heroin in combination. However, one Texas 

reporter noted the appearance of "one-on-one" 

houses in Dallas, where both heroin and crack are 

sold. She also noted that "stash areas" (drug storage 

and distribution areas) have moved from urban to 

rural areas, and white crack dealers are appearing 

on the streets in those new areas. This move may 

be related to fears of violence in and around the 

6 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
inner-city, open air drug markets. Sources in 

Denver reported that packaging of heroin and 

cocaine HC1 together for speedballing is also called 

"one-on-one." This may indicate that the term and 

its practice are spreading. Other drugs used by 

cocaine HC1 or crack users are marijuana, alcohol 

and in the West, amphetamines. 

In most communities, cocaine sellers tend to 

be young males, often Hispanic or African 

American, but as a rule of thumb, demographics of 

the sellers match the community in which they sell. 

In Texas, upper level cocaine HCl traffickers are 

white or Hispanic, and street level crack or powder 

dealers are African Americans. Nigerians and 

Jamaican posses are also reported as heavily 

involved in the crack trade. 

Prices for crack vary from $2-3/rock in 

Connecticut to $10-30 in Florida. Larger rocks (.6-.7 

grams) are available in Texas for $50, and a "cookie" or "biscuit" which equals 50 rocks sells for 

$250. Cocaine HC1 can generally be purchased as a 

dime bag or for $50-100 per grain. Connecticut, Los 

Angeles and Chicago reported sales of the "8-ball," 

a 1/8 ounce package that sells for $115-150. New 

York and New Jersey sources reported increased 

availability of larger units of purchase, including 

the 8-ball. The purity of cocaine and crack seems 

to vary somewhat, but in general is considered 

stable and high. 

Two areas also mentioned the appearance of 

"bag markings" for cocaine and crack. This has 

been common in the heroin trade for many years, 

and is often seen as an indication of stable distributors. "Bag marking" is the dealer's practice of 

labelling his/her product and selling it by name, 

e.g., "Smoking Gun," "Sudden Death," "Red Tag," 

or "Yellow Tag." 

Treatment Providers. 

Treatment providers in three of the four 

regions reported no decrease in admissions with 

cocaine as the primary drug of abuse. The exception was Region 1, where 93 percent of providers 

reported a decrease in cocaine admissions. 

Nevertheless, cocaine continues to be the most 

common primary drug for clients in Regions 1, 2 

and 4. Smoking crack is the most common method 

of ingestion: 72-94 percent of primary cocaine 

admissions are due to smoking crack. 

Alcohol is the overwhelming concurrent problem with cocaine, although heroin, marijuana, and 

amphetamine use are up in many areas compared 

with last quarter. About half of the cocaine clients 

have been in treatment before, and they tend to be 

younger than those admitted for heroin use. 

Police Sources. 

Police sources still report a very active market 

for cocaine, particularly crack. Sellers are often 

gang members, though Maryland State Police 

sources noted that bulk dealers are noticeably 

older than the lower level distributors. Crack prices 

vary from $5-20 a vial depending on the area of the 

country, and HC1 on average sells for $80-100 per 

gram. Purity is reportedly high, even at the gram 

level. 

MARIJUANA 

(Tables 7-9) 

Ethnographic Sources. 

Marijuana use, again the drug topic most avidly 

discussed by ethnographers, is reportedly up in 

almost every city and area. Sources reported marijuana use as "going through the roof" in D.C., "all 

over the place" in New York, and "the illicit substance most commonly used" in Texas. While most 

users are young, many sources reported a continOFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 7 
ued presence of marijuana among older users of 

heroin and cocaine. Marijuana is sold most often in 

bags of varying weights, and as "blunts" (marijuana 

rolled in cigar wrappers) or single joints sometimes 

laced with other substances. In Atlanta, "geek 

joints" are marijuana laced with cocaine, and marijuana laced with PCP or crack is reportedly available in several sites across the country. Marijuana 

prices range from $75-$600/ounce depending on 

the quality and variety of the drug. Sellers are 

described as separate from sellers of heroin and 

cocaine, though in New York some sellers are 

adding marijuana to their inventory because of its 

popularity among users of the other drugs they 

sell. 

In Chicago, a wide variety of marijuana is 

available in the market. Choices range from a 

strong-smelling, poorer quality variety known as 

"skunk weed" to expensive varieties with names 

like "Lima" (for its green color) and sinsemilla selling for more than $300 an ounce. In addition, 

Chicago sources reported a practice of dipping or 

wiping blunts with honey to seal the paper. 

Marketed as "honey blunts," these items presumably have a somewhat sweet smell or taste which 

might appeal to newer or younger users. 

Sources reported an emergence of international 

trafficking and smuggling of marijuana. Texas is 

described as a major transhipment area for Mexican 

marijuana, which is smuggled across the border in 

autos, by aircraft, and in family RVs. The market in 

that area is reported as "flooded" with both 

Mexican and domestically grown marijuana. 

Outdoor growing is common there, though indoor 

growing techniques are being used to produce the 

high potency and high priced sinsemilla. New 

Jersey marijuana is also now "important enough to 

smuggle," and more traffickers from areas like 

Jamaica are reported to be entering the country 

through local airports. 

Treatment Providers. 

Marijuana is generally a secondary drug to 

alcohol or other drugs for individuals seeking treatment. This quarter, however, its appearance as an 

independent problem was reported to be increasing in three of the four regions. In fact, marijuana 

surpassed cocaine as the primary drug of 

abuse in Region 3. Marijuana use is concentrated 

among users under 30 except in Region 4, where 

the majority of users treated are 31 and over. The 

majority of primary marijuana users in all regions 

have no prior treatment history. 

Police Sources. 

Police reported that use and seizures of marijuana are up and that a large part of the market is 

domestically grown. Mexican marijuana is more 

available in the West, though even there the market is dominated by locally grown marijuana. 

Boston police reported an active suburban trade 

based in part on "commuter suppliers" going from 

inner city areas to suburban ones. Prices vary widely with domestic marijuana selling for $200 per 

ounce or in bags of $10 and $20 which produce 

from two to five cigarettes. Sinsemilla or exotic 

varieties are more expensive, selling at $500 per 

ounce. 

8 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Other Emerging Drugs 

Atlanta and New York sources both mentioned 

the rise of "club drugs." These tend to be hallucinogens, like LSD or psilocybin, or Nexus, a hallucinogen sold in capsule form for $20 - $30. Other 

drugs mentioned include Elavil, Ritalin, Clonidine, 

and MDMA. These drugs appear to be used most 

often by young white users. 

Florida and Texas ethnographic sources reported the use of ephedrine (ephedrine sulfate) among 

teenagers and college students. Ephedrine is a 

chemical precursor for amphetamines and a component of over-the-counter cold medication. 

Students reportedly take as many as 13 or 14 pills 

at a time; ill effects include dizziness and heart palpitations. These findings correspond with Drug 

Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) data that show 

an increase in juvenile drug-related emergency 

room admissions. 

Sources in Denver and two California cities 

mentioned amphetamine use as a significant problem in their area. This observation was confirmed 

by treatment providers from Region 4. The price of 

methamphetamine crystals is similar to that of 

cocaine. The drug is administered in the same fashion, or even in combination with, cocaine HC1. 

Texas reported that "Red Phosphorus," a smokable 

methamphetamine cooked into rocks resembling 

crack, is being distributed by motorcycle gangs in 

some areas. Amphetamines are also reportedly 

popular on Texas college campuses. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 9 
Conclusion 

The best news this quarter appears to be that 

cocaine and crack use has stabilized and may even 

be on the decline. However, use of this drug is still 

high. Heroin use has stabilized among traditional 

injectors, but is showing an increase among 

younger users who are inhaling the drug. The 

worst news comes from those observing marijuana 

use, who say use is virtually exploding, particularly 

among teenagers. Marijuana is being laced with 

even stronger narcotics such as cocaine and PCP. 

Alcohol continues to be a substance predominantly 

linked with all three drugs. 

One striking trend in drug dealing is the level 

of sophistication sellers are showing in packaging 

and marketing drugs for their intended customers. 

Cutting and packaging drugs for new methods of 

ingestion, applying "bag markings" to packages, 

matching the race and age of the seller to the customers, and selling more than one drug at a time 

are all attempts by sellers to maintain their share of 

the market. Whether these are signs of an evolution of drug dealing as a business, or early indicators of either a surplus of drugs or a decline in 

demand is unclear. The Pulse Check will continue 

to monitor these and other trends to find the 

answers. 

1 0 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
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WASHINGTON, 

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(MUNDELL) 

OAKLAND 

(FELDMAN) 

NEW YORK 

(GOLDSMITH) 

ATLANTA 

(STERKELIFON) 

DENVER 

(KOESTER) 

TABLE 1 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

INCIDENCE WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER DRUGS EMERGING WHO'S SELLING 

DRUGS 

HIGH OVER 30, PRIMARILY 

INJECTORS 

UNCHANGED 

UNCHANGED 

ON RISE IN 

GENERAL 

SLIGHT 

INCREASE 

STABLE 

HIGH 

INCREASING 

MORE 

INJECTORS 

VISIBLE DUE 

TO SEASON 

YOUNG ADULTS 

HISPANICS 

WHITES 

MEDIAN AGE ABOUT 

36; SMOKERS ARE 

YOUNGER, INJECTORS 

ARE AGING 

MID 30S TO 60S; 

AFRICAN-AMERICANS 

SAME USERS 

MALES & FEMALES 

EQUALLY 

1) OLDER MALES IN 

THEIR 30S AND 40S 

2) NEW USERS WHO 

INHALE & ALSO USE 

CRACK 

WHITE AND HISPANIC 

OVER 18 

MORE YOUNG 

USERS 

SNORTING 

SOME MORE 

TEENS 

NONE 

MORE 

INHALERS, 

SMOKERS 

MORE NEW 

YOUNG 

SNORTERS 

NO 

MORE 

INHALERS 

RECENTLY, 

SNORTERS 

ARE SEEN 

NO 

INJECTION; 

SOME 

SNORTING, 

NO SMOKING 

SEEN 

INJECTION; 

SNORTING; 

"NOSE DROPS" 

INJECTION 

INJECTION 

PREVAILS BUT 

SMOKING IS 

UP 

INJECTION 

PRIMARILY, 

SOME 

SNORTING 

INJECTION 

INJECTION 

DOMINATES, 

BUT SEES 

LOTS OF 

INHALERS 

INJECTION 

STILL MOST 

COMMON 

(60%) 

INJECTION 

METHAMPHETAMINE 

ALCOHOL 

MARIJUANA 

SPEEDBALL 

COCAINE 

COCAINE IN 

SPEEDBALL, 

CRACK 

COCAINE IN 

SPEEDBALL, 

MARIJUANA 

LSD 

MDMA 

PCP 

"CLUB DRUGS": 

NEXUS 

NONE 

MEXICAN 

ORGANIZED CRIME 

WHITE USERS; 

MEXICANAMERICANS 

UPPER LEVELS ARE 

NIGERIAN 

AFRICAN-AMERICAN 

USER/SELLERS 35-45 

YR. OLD 

SAME SELLERS 

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CITY INCIDENCE 

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(PAGE) 

CHICAGO STILL HIGH 

(WEIBEL) 

TAMPA VERY LOW 

(~CZKOWSra) 

TRENTON/ INCREASING 

NEWARK 

(FRENCH) 

TABLE 1 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

NEW YORK 

(GALEA) 

AUSTIN, TX 

(MAXWELL) 

HIGH 

UP 

WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER DRUGS 

OLDER USERS --- INJECTION COCAINE IN 

SPEEDBALL 

OLDER INJECTORS; NEW USERS INJECTION; ATAREX COKE 

YOUNGER SNORTERS TEND TO BE SNORTING 

YOUNG 

OLDER USERS MAINLY, 

WITH SOME NEW 

YOUNG INHALERS 

OLDER USERS, 

FOR INJECTORS 

IS 36, X AGE FOR 

INHALERS IS 33 

MORE WHITES 

IN SUBURBS 

ARE 

SNORTING 

SOME YOUNG 

NEW USERS 

MORE 

SNORTERS; 

STILL 

INJECTORS; 

NO SMOKING 

INJECTION; 

SMOKING 

MIXED 

W/TOBACCO 

INHALING 

97% INJECT COCAINE, 

ALCOHOL 

EMERGING WHO'S SELLING 

DRUGS 

OLDER, 

ESTABLISHED 

CONNECTIONS; 

SOME GANGS 

IN URBAN AREAS, 

HISPANICS & 

AFRICANAMERICANS 

OLDER SELLERS, 

INCREASING #S OF 

WOMEN 

MEXICAN MAFIA 

CONTROLS BLACK 

TAR AND MEXICAN 

BROWN TRADE; 

NIGERIANS AND 

COLOMBIANS ALSO 

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TABLE 1 (CONT'D.) 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

CITY PURCHASE AMOUNT PURITY OTHER/COMMENTS 

BRIDGEPORT, $10/BAG BY THE TIME IT HITS THE LOTS OF P-DOPE; HEAVY MARKETING BY VARIETY OF DEALERS; SNIFFERS ARE IN 

CONNECTICUT STREET, IT'S BEEN "WACKED" VOGUE 

(GETER) (SEVERELY CUT) 

SAN ANTONIO/EL VARIABLE BUT GENERALLY YOUNG USERS ARE COOKING IT AND TAKING IT AS "NOSE DROPS" 

PASO POOR 

(RAMOS) 

LOS ANGELES BLACK TAR PREDOMINANT; LA. STILL ONLY A TRANSSHIPMEaNT POINT FOR WHYIE 

(Ar¢NON) HEROIN 

SAN FRANCISCO $60-80/GRAM HIGH PURITY INCREASES AFTER 114 GRAM LEVEL; BLACK TAR SPRAYED WITH 7-UP TO 

(MURPHY) ADD WEIGHT 

WASHINGTON, DC --- 19% 

(MUNDELL) 

OAKLAND --- COMPLAINTS FROM USERS OF 

(FELDMAN) POOR QUAI.ITY 

NEW YORK $10/BAG GOOD SEES MANY METHADONE CLIENTS SNIFFING 

(GOLDSMITH) 

ATLANTA $100/GRAM 28-44% PURE RECENTLY SEEING SOME [NHALERS, THOUGH INIECHON DOMINATES 

(STERK-~ON) 

DENVER $20-25/"PAPER" POOR MEXICAN NATIONALS CONTROL HEROIN; THERE ARE LOTS OF STREET SELLERS OF 

(KOESTER) ALL TYPES 

MIAMI --- UP 

(PAGE) 

CHICAGO $5, 10, 20 BAGS HIGH; VERY AVAILABLE 60% TREATMENT ADMISSIONS FOR SNORTING - DOUBLED FROM 1991 

(WEmEL) 1/2 GRAM = $7s 

OZ. = $1100-5000 

TAMPA ...... 

(MIF_L'ZKOWSKI) 

TREIWI'ON/NEWARK $15mAG 60-80% AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NOT INIFJLTORS, SEROPREVALENCE (HIV) IS STILL 10% 

(FRENCH) SUGGESTING SEXUAL TRANSMISSION. P-DOPE AND P-FUNK HAVE APPEARED. 

NEW YORK S5,10/BAG GOOD; USERS SAY, "IT'S HEROIN IS BEING CUT WITHOUT QUININE TO MAKE IT EASIER ON SNORTERS. ALSO 

(GAtE, A) GREAT" BEING PUT IN A BOWL W/TOBACCO, W/PROCESSED HEROIN ON TOP & SMOKED. 

AUSTIN, "IX 

(MAXWELL) 

$150-$300/GRAM 

$25/PAPER FOR 

BLACK TAR 

GOOD AT THE GRAM OR 

LARGER LEVEL 

HEROIN TRADE IS DOMINATED BY MEXICANS, BUT LOW-PRICI~, HIGHER PURITY 

COLOMBIAN HEROIN BEING SEIZED SUGGESTS NEW, SERIOUS COMPLrITHON. 
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TABLE 2 

POLICE 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

CITY INCIDENCE WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER EMERGING WHO'S SELLING 

DRUGS DRUGS 

HIGH LSD, TRADITIONAL SELLERS 

MARIJUANA 

NEW YORK 

P,D. -- 

SPECIAL 

PROIEC'FS, 

NARCOTICS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

MARYLAND 

STATE POLICE 

BOSTON P.D. 

SEATILE, WA 

P.D. 

LOS ANGELES 

LAPD, SOUTH 

CENTRAL 

NEW YORK 

P.D. 

STILL HIGH 

MORE HEROIN 

BEING SEIZED 

IN RANDOM 

HIGHWAY 

STOPS 

INCREASING 

ARRESTS IN 

MAY UP 22% 

COMPARED TO 

MAY 1993; 

SEIZURES 

DOWN 

USERS CONCENTRATED 

IN PARTICULAR AREAS 

MORE YOUNG 

USERS SEEN 

PRIMARILY 

INJECTION; 

SOME 

INHALING 

INJECYION 

INCREASED 

INHALING 

INHALATION IS 

INCREASING 

COCAINE HISPANICS 

TRAFFICKERS ARE 

BECOMING YOUNGER; 

MALES 

DEPENDS ON 

COMMUNITY; SELLER 

MATCHES USER 

MEXICAN FAMILIES 

BASED IN MEXICO 
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TABLE 2 (CONT'D.) 

POLICE 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

CITY PURCHASE AMOUNT PURITY OTHER/COMMENTS 

NEW YORK P.D. 40-65% 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

NARCO~CS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

MARYLAND 

STATE POLICE 

BOSTON P.D. 

SEA'Iq'LE, WA P.D. 

NEW YORK P.D. 

$10/BAG 

$5/BAG 

$900/0Z. 

FOR INJECTION: 

$10, $20 PER BAG OR 

$75 PER GRAM 

FOR INHALING: 

$i00 PER 1/4 GRAM 

$10-$25/GLASSINE OR 

FOLDED PAPER 

BLACK TAR 

$80-$300/GRAM 

10-27% 

LOW FOR INJECTORS; 

HIGH FOR INHALERS 

HIGH 

GRAM: 20-70% 

OZ.: 30% 

LB.: 28-62% 

PRIMARILY BLACK TAR; HEROIN IS DEFINITELY 

MAKING A COMEBACK 

"WE NEED MORE HELP." 

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NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE SUMMARY TABLE 3 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

DRUG USE PATI~ERNS 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

I 

N=17 

II 

N= 14 

HI 

N=IO 

IV 

N= 11 

REGION 

% CLIENTS 

W/DRUG LISTED 

AS 1 ° DRUG 

OF ABUSE 

X=15% 

X=16% 

:~=2% 

X=7% 

A OVER 

LAST YEAR 

INCREASE 20% 

NO CHANGE 80% 

DECREASE 0 

INCREASE 40% 

NO CTIANGE 50% 

DECREASE 10% 

INCREASE 17% 

NO CHANGE 83% 

DECREASE 0 

% CLIENTS 

INJECTING 

~=58% 

R=5o% 

X=78% 

%~ 

INHALING/ 

SMOKING 

:~--42% 

R=50% 

Y~=22% 

OTHER DRUGS 

USED (% MENTIONED) 

COCAINE 93% 

MARIJUANA 67% 

ALCOHOL 93% 

TRANQUILIZERS 33% 

AMPHETAMINES 27% 

OTHER 7% 

COCAINE 43% 

MARIJUANA 29% 

ALCOHOL 50% 

TRANQUILIZERS 7% 

AMPHETAMINES 7% 

OTHER 21% 

COCAINE 50% 

MARIJUANA 83 % 

ALCOHOL 100% 

TRANQUILIZERS 50% 

AMPHETAMINES 33% 

INCREASE 42% 

NO CHANGE 42% 

DECREASE 16% 

X=93% X=7% COCAINE 64% 

MARIJUANA 45 % 

ALCOHOL 100% 

TRANQUILIZERS 36% 

AMPHETAMINES 36% 

OTHER 9% 

REGION [: 

REGION lI: 

REGION m: 

REGION IV: 

CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETI'S, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, RHODE ISLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, PENNSYLVANIA 

ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, 

MARYLAND, DELAWARE, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, D.C. 

IL.LINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA 

COLORADO, MONTANA, UTAH, WYOMING, NEVADA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, WASHINGTON, OREGON 
© 

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NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE SUMMARY TABLE 3 (CONT'D.) 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS BY DRUG OF ABUSE 

DRUG - HEROIN: 6/94 

PERCENT BY AGE PERCENT BY RACE/ETHNICITY PERCENT BY SEX PRIOR TREATMENT 

REGION UNDER AFRICAN20 21-30 31+ AMERICAN WHITE 

I 

N=17 

II 

N= 14 

HI 

N=10 

IV 

N=ll 

:(=12% 

~7=1% 

5;---0 

5~=7% 

:(=21% 

~=57% 

X=8% 

:(=33% 

X=67% 

X=42% 

X=92% 

5[=60% 

X=31% 

X=22% 

:X=29% 

X=10% 

HISPANIC 

AND 

OTHER 

X=58% X=ll% 

2~---77% X=l% 

5(=69% :(=2% 

:(=72% X=18% 

MALE FEMALE 

~--8o% R--2o% 

X=79% 5(=21% 

X=77% X=23% 

X=70% X=30% 

YES NO 

:(=64% :(=36% 

X=98% X=2% 

X=8o% :c=2o% 

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TABLE 4 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

CITY INCIDENCE WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER DRUGS EMERGING WHO'S 

DRUGS SELLING 

BRIDGEPORT, STABLE NONE SMOKING; HEROIN 

CONNECTICUT SPEEDBALLS 

(GETER) 

SAN ANTONIO/ STABLE AFRICAN-AMERICANS HISPANICS 

EL PASO USE CRACK, LATINOS 

(KAMOS) USE COCAINE HCL 

LOS ANGELES RELATIVE SAME NO SPECIAL 89% SMOKING PCP PCP NO CHANGE 

(ANNON) DOWNTURN NEW USERS 

! 

SAN FRANCISCO STEADY MID 30S SMOKING ALCOHOL LSD AFRICAN- 

(MURPHY) DECLINE IN MARIJUANA MDMA AMERICANS 

NEW USERS HEROIN AND MEXICANS 

! 

LSD 

ALCOHOL 

WASHINGTON, 

DC 

0vIUNDELL) 

OAKLAND 

f~LDMAN) 

NEW YORK 

(GOLDSMITH) 

ATLANTA 

(STERK-ELIFON) 

DENVER 

(KOESTER) 

MIAMI 

(PAGE) 

LITII~ NEW 

USE, DECLINE 

OVERALL 

CONTINUING 

TO DEVELOP 

HIGH IN SOME 

AREAS 

STABLE 

UP 

AFRICAN-AMERICANS, 

FEMALES FOR CRACK; 

ALL TYPES FOR HCL 

ALL AGES, ETHNICITIES 

NO CHANGES 

50/50 GENDER MIX; 

PRIMARILY AFRICANAMERICAN 

AFRICAN-AMERICANS & 

WHITES 

SNORTERS OVER 30 

CRACK USERS YOUNGER 

INCREASE IN 

SEEKING 

TREATMENT 

MORE YOUNG 

WHITES 

NO 

MORE 

INJECTORS 

FEWER 

SHOOTERS 

SMOKING 

INJECTING 

SMOKING 

SMOKING 

INJECTION; 

SOME 

SMOKING 

HEROIN 

MARIJUANA 

HEROIN 

SEE HEROIN 

NONE 

SNORTING 

AND 

INJECTING 

HEROIN IN 

SPEEDBALL, 

METHAMPHETAMINE 

MDMA IN 

CLUBS 

AFRICANAMERICAN 

MALES 

MEXICANAMERICAN 

USER/SELLERS 

35--45 YEARS 

OLD 

YOUNG 

HISPANICS 

NO CHANGE 

SAME SELLERS 

AS HEROIN 
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CITY 

CHICAGO 

(WEIBEL) 

TAMPA 

(MIECZKOWSKI) 

TRENTON/ 

NEWARK 

(FRENCH) 

NEW YORK 

(GALEA) 

AUSTIN, TX 

(MAXWELL) 

TABLE 4 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG = COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

INCIDENCE 

STILL 

INCREASING IN 

INNER CITY 

AREAS 

NO CHANGE 

DECLINING 

SAME 

STABLE 

WHO'S USING 

AFRICAN-AMERICANS, 

THOUGH THERE IS A 

CROSS-SECTION 

23% OF POPULATION HE 

SEES 

MOSTLY AFRICANAMERICANS IN LATE 20S, 

SOME SUBURBANITES 

YOUNGER GROUP, LATE 

TEENS 

CRACK USERS ARE 

YOUNGER, MORE LIKELY 

TO BE FEMALE, AFRICAN 

AMERICAN; INHALERS 

AND INJECTORS MORE 

OFTEN WHITE, HISPANIC, 

AND MALE 

A IN USERS 

NONE 

NO 

SWITCHING 

TO HEROIN 

NUMBER OF 

INJECTORS 

DECLINING 

METHOD 

SMOKING; 

SOME 

INJECTION 

SMOKING 

SNORTING 

SMOKING 

INJECTING 

SMOKING 

INJECTING 

SMOKING 

INJECTING 

OTHER DRUGS 

MARIJUANA 

MARIJUANA 

ALCOHOL 

ALCOHOL 

HEROIN 

PSILOCYBIN IN 

QUEENS 

HEROIN 

(SPEEDBALL) 

EMERGING 

DRUGS 

ELAVIL 

EPHEDRINE 

(SEE 

NARRATIVE) 

WHO'S 

SELLING 

SOME GANGS; 

DEPENDS ON 

NEIGHBORHOOD 

TEENAGERS 

WHO ARE NOT 

USERS 

SOME NEW 

.MARKETING OF 

1/8 OZ. BAGS 

VARIES IN 

PLACES 

THROUGHOUT 

STATE; 

NIGERIANS, 

HISPANIC, S, 

GANGS 

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CITY 

BRIDGEPORT, 

CONNECTICUT 

(GETER) 

SAN ANTONIO/ 

EL PASO 

(RAMOS) 

LOS ANGELES 

(~o~ 

SAN FRANCISCO 

(MURPHY) 

WASHINGTON, DC 

(MUNDELL) 

OAKLAND 

(rELDMA~ 

NEW YORK 

(GOLDSMITH) 

ATLANTA 

(STERK-EUFO~ 

DENVER 

(KOESTER) 

MIAMI 

(PAGE) 

CHICAGO 

(WEmEL) 

TABLE 4 (CONTD.) 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

PURCHASE AMOUNT 

$2-3/ROCK 

$10/BAG FOR HCL 

1~ Ol = $115 

8 BALL = $150 

$10-20/P.OCK 

$50-80/GRAM 

$20/ROCK 

$10, 20/BAG 

$SNIAL 

$5/ROCK 

$100/GRAM 

$20-25 PER 1/4 GRAM 

GRAM = $50--100 

8 BALL = $125-150 

OZ. = $900-1500 

PURITY 

GOOD 

50-70% CRACK 

85% FOR HCL 

HIGH 

GOOD 

STABLE 

VARIABLE;FAIRTO GOOD 

STEADY 

GOOD 

OTHER/COMMENTS 

PRICES HAVE LOWERED AND VIALS ARE MARKETED W/COLOR MARKINGS TO INDICATE DEALER, LIKE 

HEROIN 

MEXICAN ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROLS DRUGS, PROSTITUTION IN MAJOR HOUSING PROJECTS 

MORE PCP, MPHETAM/NES PARTICULARLY AMONG LATINOS 

THE CRACK SCENE SEEMS TO HAVE GROWN MORE AND MORE DESPERATE W/MORE & MORE PEOPLE 

REQUESTING REFERRALS TO DRUG PROGRAMS. BECAUSE PROGRAMS ARE FULL, THE EFFECT IS 

HEIGHTENED HUSTLING IN THE STREET. 

MARKETING BY COLOR LIKE HEROIN 

"ONE-ON-ONE" IS PACKAGING OF HEROIN AND COCAINE FOR SPEEDBALLING 

~D OF MIXING RITAHN, COKE AND HEROIN FOR INJECTION 

TAMPA $10, 20, 30/ROCK DK 

(ileczKowsm) ; 

TRENTON/NEWARK $3-100 CRACK COCAINE USE IS RETREATING; CRACK AND HCL ARE SECONDARY TO ALCOHOL 

(FRENCH) ~ $5, 10, 20 HCL BAGS t 

NEW YORK $2, 3, 5, 10/VlA.L SAME PS~IN APPEARING IN QUEENS IS OBTAINED THROUGH MAIL; CONNECTIONS MADE THROUGH 

(GALEA) ~ ~ GRATEFUL DEAD CONCERTS; ALSO SEES 1/80Z PRE-COOKED CRACK 

AUSTIN, "IX $10/BAG HIGH SOME USERS ARE DISSOLVING CRACK IN VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE, THEN INJECTING IT 

(MAXWELL) $5-10/ROCK 

$250/"COOKIE" 

$75-90/GRAM 
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CITY 

NEW YORK P.D. 

SPECIAL 

PROJECTS 

NARCOTICS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

MARYLAND 

STATE POLICE 

BOSTON P.D. 

SEATrLF_, WA 

P.D. 

LAPD 

(so. CEm~) 

NEW YORK P.D. 

INCIDENCE 

STILL A 

SIGNIFICANT 

PROBLEM 

STILL HIGH 

AVAILABILITY OF 

CRACK IS 

SLOWLY 

INCREASING 

HIGH, BUT 

STABLE FOR PAST 

FEW YEARS 

CRACK STABLE; 

POWDER IS RARE 

CRACK ARRESTS 

UP 36% 

COMPARED TO 

MAY 1993; 

POWDER 

ARRESTS UP 9% 

SINCE MAY 1993 

SAME 

WHO'S USING 

NO 

TABLE S 

POLICE 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

A IN USERS METHOD 

PRIMARILY 

CRACK 

CRACK 

PRIMARILY 

INHALED OR 

SMOKED 

CRACK IS 

DOMINANT 

OTH~ 

DRUGS 

PCP 

EMERGING 

DRUGS 

WHO'S SEI.£,ING 

TRADITIONAL SELLERS 

VARIES W1TH THE 

COMMUNITY; STREET 

SELLERS TEND TO BE 

YOUNGER; VOLUME 

TRAFFICKERS ARE OLDER 

SELLER MATCHES USER. 

MEXICAN FAMILY 

ORGANIZATIONS 

BLACK GANGS AND 

HISPANICS 
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TABLE 5 (CONT'D.) 

POLICE 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

CITY PURCHASE PURITY OTHER/COMMENTS 

AMOUNT 

NEW YORK P.D. $5, $10WIAL --- 

SPECIAL PROJEC'FS 

NARCOTICS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

KILO = $15,000 - 

$28,000 

DK 

MARYLAND STATE HCL $80/GRAM HCL VARIES 65-75% 

POLICE CRACK $10/ROCK CRACK 75-80% 

(1/10 GRAM) 

$200 PER OUNCE 

BOSTON P.D. $1,2001OZ. HCL 

$10-20/VIAL 

SEATI'LE, WA $80-150/GRAM GRAM: 50-70% 

P.D. $800-2,000/OZ. OZ: 40-80% 

LAPD $5-10 FLAKES OR HIGHER IN SOUTHERN 

(SO. CENTRAL) CHIPS DISTRICTS 
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I 

N=17 

II 

N=14 

EI 

N=10 

IV 

N=ll 

NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE 

REGION 

% CLIENTS " 

W/DRUG LISTED 

AS 1" DRUG 

OF ABUSE 

R=4:% 

X=26% 

x=9% 

R=20% 

SUMMARY TABLE 6 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

DRUG USE PATTERNS 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

A OVER 

LAST YEAR 

INCREASE 7% 

NO CHANGE 0 

DECREASE 93% 

INCREASE 15% 

NO CHANGE 85% 

DECREASE 0 

INCREASE 20% 

NO CHANGE 80% 

DECREASE 0 

INCREASE 20% 

NO CHANGE 80% 

DECREASE 0 

% CLIENTS 

INJECtiNG 

R--24% 

X=6% 

X=22% 

X=28% 

% CI2ENTS 

INHALING/ 

SMOKING 

X=76% 

~(=94% 

~=78% 

X=72% 

OTHER DRUGS 

USED (% Iv~]qT~ONI~D) 

HEROIN 47% 

MARIJUANA 80% 

ALCOHOL 100% 

TRANQUILIZERS 27% 

AMPHETAMINES 20% 

HEROIN 23% 

MARIIUANA 92% 

ALCOHOL 100% 

TRANQUILIZERS 54% 

AMPHETAMINES 31% 

OTHER 15% 

HEROIN 30% 

MARIJUANA 90% 

ALCOHOL 100% 

TRANQUILIZERS 100% 

AMPHETAMINES 60% 

HEROIN 18% 

MARIJUANA 27% 

ALCOHOL 91% 

TRANQUILIZERS 9% 

AMPHETAMINES 45% 

OTHER 9% 

REGION I: 

REGION II: 

REGION IE: 

REGION IV: 

CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, RHODE ISLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, PENNSYLVANIA 

ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, 

OKLAHOMA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, D.C. 

ILLINOIS, IND/ANA" MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA 

COLORADO, MONTANA, UTAH, WYOMING, NEVADA I ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, WASHINGTON~ OREGON 

~0 
bO 

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I 

N=17 

17 

N=14 

HI 

N= 10 

IV 

N=ll 

NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE 

SUMMARY TABLE 6 (CONT'D.) 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS BY DRUG OF ABUSE 

DRUG - COCAINE/CRACK: 6/94 

PERCENT BY AGE PERC'ENT BY RA~CTFY PERC-'F2~ BY SEX PRIOR TREATMENT 

REGION UNDER AFRICAN- HISPANIC 

~ 20 21-30 31+ AMERICAN WHITE AND 

OTHER 

X=14% X=40% J~---46% X=34% X=54% X=12% 

~k=7% 

X= 10% 

X=44% 

X=33% 

X=45% 

x=49% 

9~=57% 

~=50% 

X=47% 

X=21% 

X= 14% 

:~=52% 

X=75% 

X=69% 

:~=]% 

X=4% 

X=17% 

MALE FEMALE 

R=75% $:--z5% 

X=71% X=29% 

X=68% )~=32% 

X=73% X=27% 

YES NO 

X=59% X--41% 

X=46% X=54% 

X=44% X=56% 

X=67% X=33% 
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TABLE 7 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - MARIJUANA: 6/94 

BRIDGEPORT, 

I CONNECTICUT 

(G~'rER) 

SAN 

ANTONIO/ 

EL PASO 

O~-AMOS) 

IA)S ANGELES 

SAN 

FRANCISCO 

(MURPHY) 

WASHINGTON, 

DC 

~U~DELL) 

OAKLAND 

(F~LDMA~ 

NEW YORK 

(GOLDSMITH) 

ATLANTA 

(STERKEuro~9 

DENVER 

(KOF_STER) 

CITY INCIDENCE WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER EMERGING WHO'S SELLING 

DRUGS DRUGS 

UP 15-20 YEARS OLD ...... ALCOHOL MARKETED IN WHITE 

AREAS 

SAME ANGLO MIDDLE CLASS ......... 

TEENS 

HOUSING PROJECT 

TEENS 

UP -- WIDELY YOUNG MALES 

AVAILABLE 

STABLE YOUNG WHITES 

"GOING 

THROUGH THE 

ROOF" 

LESS PUBLIC 

SMOKING STILL 

COMMON 

YOUNG USERS SMOKE 

BLUNTS; OLDER USERS 

SMOKE JOINTS 

ADOLESCENTS 

EVERYONE 

UP ADOLESCEN'I~, OFTEN 

WHITE 

"EXTENSIVE" EVERYONE 

SAME AS FOR OTHER 

DRUGS 

...... PCP --- 

NO --- ALCOHOL ALMOST ALL WHITE 

DEALERS, SOME 

HISPANICS 

...... ALL GROUPS 

INCREASED 

SALES OF 

VALIUM, 

MUSCLE 

RELAXERS TO 

WOMEN BY 

WOMEN 

BLUNTS, 

W/PC'P; 

CRACK 

LESS PUBLIC DEALING 

BLUNTS TEENAGERS 

SMOKED ALCOHOL CLUB DRUGS --- 

OFI'EN IN 

"GEEK JOINTS" 

............ SEPARATE DEALERS 

FROM OTHER DRUGS 
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ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - MARIJUANA: 6/94 

CITY INCIDENCE WHO'S USING A IN USERS METHOD OTHER EMERGING 

DRUGS DRUGS 

STEADY ............... 

INCREASING YOUNG USERS; GANG JUST MORE --- VALIUM 

MEMBERS CODEINE 

--- NONE EPHEDRINE 

MIAMI 

(PAGE) 

CHICAGO 

(WEIBEL) 

TAMPA 

(MmCZ~OWSm3 

TRENTON/ 

NEWARK 

(FRENCH) 

NEW YORK 

(GALEA) 

AUSTIN, "IX 

(MAXWELL) 

HIGH - 40-50% 

OF POPULATION 

HE SEES 

UP 

ALL OVER THE 

PLACE 

MOST 

COMMONLY 

USED 

SUBSTANCE 

TEENS, EARLY 20S 

EVERYONE 

YOUNG, THOUGH 

AVERAGE AGE OF 

USERS INCREASING 

ALCOHOL 

ALCOHOL 

WHO'S SELLING 

ESTABLISHED 

DEALERS 

JAMAICAN 

CONNECTIONS AND 

HOME GROWERS 

CRACK AND HEROIN 

SELLERS ARE ADDING 

MARIJUANA BECAUSE 

OF POPULARITY 

MEXICAN NATIONALS 

THROUGH BORDER 

SMUGGLING; 

DOMESTIC GROWERS 

ARE WHITE 
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TABLE 7 (CONT'D.) 

ETHNOGRAPHERS 

DRUG - MARIJUANA: 6/94 

CITY PURCHASE AMOUNT PURITY OTHER/COMMENTS 

I 

BRIDGEPORT, $10/BAG (2-4 IOINTS) GOOD RISE IN USE AMONG TEENS 

CONNECHCUT 

(GETER) 

SAN ANTONIO/ DK DK 

EL PASO 

(v,,~OS) 

LOS ANGELES $800/LB. COMMERCIAL GRADE PCP LACED IOINTS RATHER THAN BLUNTS ARE POPULAR 

(ANNON) $10-5/GRAM ! 12% THC 

SAN FRANCISCO $15-20/GRAM VARIABLE; NOT AVAILABLE 

(MURPHY) $400-600/OZ. 

WASHINGTON, DC HIGH BLUNTS NOW BEING SOLD AS SINGLE UNITS; BIG INCREASE IN PCP USE 

(MUNDELL) 

! 

OAKLAND $5-10/BAG --- 

f~ELDr'~a'9 

NEW YORK $S-10:BAG GOOD CONTn, r~ED HEAVY MARKETINO 

(GOLDSMITH) 

I 

ATLANTA $150-180/OZ. DK ADOLESCENTS USE MARIJUANA INSTEAD OF CRACK AS IT IS SEEN AS MORE 

(STERK-ELIFON) ACCEPTABLE; "GEEK" JOINTS ARE ONES LAC.T~D W/COCAINE 

I 

DENVER VARIABLE BY SELLER VARIABLE AS TO GROWER: MEXICAN OR 

(KOESTER) HYDROPONIC 

MIAMI STEADY 

~PAGE) 

I 

CHICAGO $75-80/OZ. VARIABLE "HONEY BLUNTS" ARE BLUNTS BAKED WITH HONEY SEAL; SEE NARRATIVE 

CWEmEL) SOME ARE 

$250-300/OZ. 

TRENTON/NEWARK $10/BAG VARIABLE BLUNTS ARE A FAD BUT MOST ARE lUST SMOKING IOINTS 

CFRENCH) $150-6001OZ. 

TAMPA TAMPA 

9~tarCZKOWS~ 

NEW YORK $150-600/OZ. THC CONTENT LIP BLUNTS STILL POPULAR 

(GALEA) $5 BAGS 

AUSTIN, TX $80-100/OZ, 20% THC MARKET IS FLOODED AND WIDE RANGE OF PURITY AND VARIETIES ARE 

(MAXWELL) AVAH.ABLE 
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CITY 

NEW YORK 

P.D. 

SPECIAL 

PROJECq'S 

NARCOTICS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

MARYLAND 

STATE POLICE 

BOSTON P.D. 

SEATI'LE, WA 

P.D. 

LAPD 

(SO. 

CENTRAL) 

NEW YORK 

P.D. 

UP 

INCIDENCE 

INCREASING 

PREVALENT 

SAME 

ARRESTS IN 

MAY UP 11% 

FROM MAY 1993 

WHO'S USING 

YOUNG USERS 

EVERYONE; "EVERY 

MALE PUSHING A 

SHOPPING CART" 

(ItOMELESS) 

NO 

NO 

TABLE 8 

POLICE 

DRUG - MAR] IUANA: 6/94 

A IN USERS METHOD OTHER 

DRUGS 

COCAINE 

PC'P; LSD 

EMERGING 

DRUGS 

WHO'S SELLING 

LOCAL GROWERS 

MORE FEMALES; 

OLDER MALES 

CRACK DEALERS; ALSO 

COMMUTER SALES TO 

WHITES 

BLACKS AND 

HISPANICS 
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CITY 

NEW YORK P.D. 

SPECIAL PROJECI'S 

NARCOTICS 

YAKIMA, WA 

DEA 

MARYLAND STATE 

POLICE 

BOSTON P.D. 

SEATTLE, WA P.D. 

LAPD 

(SO. CENTRAL) 

TABLE 8 (CONT'D.) 

POLICE 

DRUG - MARIJUANA: 6/94 

PURCHASE 

AMOUNT 

$200/OZ. 

$500/OZ. FOR 

SINSEMILLA 

$23/BAG ON 

STREET 

DOMESTIC: $2,000- 

5000/LB. 

MEXICAN: $700- 

2500/LB. 

$10/BAG 

PURITY 

ALLEGEDLY MORE PURE 

VARIES 

GOOD 

OTHER/COMMENTS 

LOCAL GROWERS ARE WHITE, 20-50 YEARS OLD, 

MORE SOPHISTICATED HYDROPONIC GROWING 

BLUNTS ARE NOT A BIG PROBLEM -- "OUR 

MANPOWER GOES TO O'ITIER THINGS" -- 

BIG DELIVERY SERVICE TO WHITE SUBURBS 

FROM BOSTON 

LOCALS GROW DOMESTICS; SMALL QUANTITIES 

OF MEXICAN AVAILABLE 

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NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE 

REGION 

I 

N=17 

II 

N=14 

N=10 

IV 

N=ll 

% CLIENTS 

W/DRUG LISTED 

AS 1" DRUG 

OF ABUSE 

;K-.= 15% 

X=16% 

X:14% 

X=12% 

SUMMARY TABLE 9 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

DRUG USE PA'I~ERNS 

DRUG - MARUUANA: 6/94 

A OVER 

LAST YEAR 

INCREASE 0 

NO CHANGE 86% 

DECREASE 14% 

INCREASE 8% 

NO CHANGE 84% 

DECREASE 8% 

INCREASE 10% 

NO CHANGE 90% 

DECREASE 0 

INCREASE 21% 

NO CHANGE 67% 

DECREASE 12% 

OTHER DRUGS 

USED 

HEROIN 

COCAINE 

ALCOHOL 

TRANQUILIZERS 

AMPHETAMINES 

OTHER 

COCAIN 

ALCOHOL 

TRANQUILIZERS 

AMPHETAMINES 

OTHER 

HEROIN 

COCAINE 

ALCOHOL 

TRANQUII~ZERS 

AMPHETAMINES 

OTHER 

COCAINE 

ALCOHOL 

TRANQUILIZERS 

AMPHETAMINF~ 

36% 

43% 

100% 

36% 

21% 

7% 

73% 

100% 

46% 

31% 

15% 

30% 

70% 

100% 

40% 

50% 

20% 

36% 

82% 

18% 

27% 

REGION I: 

REGION II: 

REGION llI: 

REGION IV: 

CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETI'S, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, RHODE ISLAND, NEW 

HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, PENNSYLVANIA 

ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS, NORTH AND SOUTH 

CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, MARYLAND, DELAWARE, 

VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, D.C. 

ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, 

NEBRASKA, NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA 

COLORADO, MONTANA, UTAH, WYOMING, NEVADA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, NEW 

MEXICO) WASHINGTON r OREGON 
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NOTE: X INDICATES AN AVERAGE 

SUMMARY TABLE 9 (CONT'D.) 

TREATMENT PROVIDERS 

CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS BY DRUG OF ABUSE 

DRUG - MARIJUANA: 6/94 

I 

N=17 

PERCENT BY AGE PERCENT BY RAC'E/ETHNICITY PERCENT BY SEX PRIOR TREATMENT 

REGION UNDER AFRICAN- HISPANIC 

20 21-30 31+ AMERICAN WHITE AND YES NO 

OTHER 

X=21% X=38% X=41% X=22% X=73% X=5% X=34% X=66% 

N= 14 

III 

N=10 

IV 

N=ll 

X=17% 

x=2o% 

X=47% 

X=43% 

X=36% 

X=37% 

X=26% 

X=17% 

X=73% 

X=78% 

MALE FEMALE 

X=74% X=26% 

X=77% X=23% 

X=71% X=29% 

X=16% X=25% X=59% X=6% X=72% X=22% X=73% X=27% 

X=42% 

X=36% 

R=44% 

~=58% 

X=64% 

x=56%