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OFFICE OF NATIONAL DR UG CONTROL POLICY 

PULSE CHECK 

National Trends in Drug Abuse 

Executive Office of the President 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Barry R. McCaffrey, Director 

Office of Programs, Budget, Research, and Evaluation 

Released Winter 1997 

If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov.
Highlights 

The Pulse Check is a report on the use and distribution of illicit drugs in various areas of the 

country that is published semi-annually by the Office of National Drug Control Policy 

(ONDCP). It is based on conversations with drug researchers (i.e., ethnographers, 

epidemiologists), law enforcement officials (i.e, State police, DEA agents) and substance abuse 

treatment providers nationwide. Highlights of the current issue are summarized below. 

Heroin 

• The increased popularity of heroin has 

reached most regions of the country. High 

purity heroin is widely available in the urban 

areas of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and West. 

While it is less common in the South, its use 

is rising in that region also. 

drug users unlike typical heroin dealers who 

distribute through a network of acquaintances. 

While they combine distribution of heroin and 

cocaine, they usually do not sell marijuana, 

hallucinogens, methamphetamine or any other 

drugs. 

Cocaine 

• Sources in all areas report the appearance of 

more new, young users, although the majority 

of heroin users are still older, established users. 

Young users are likely to initiate heroin use by 

snorting the drug, but if they become habituated they switch to injecting. 

• In the Southwest Border region it is more 

common to find low purity Mexican black tar 

heroin. Thus, most users (including initiates) 

inject. Some users in this area are finding 

ways to dissolve the substance and squirt it 

intra-nasally. 

• With the price of heroin low, sources in 

Bridgeport, Atlanta, and Miami report that 

crack users are starting to use heroin in addition to crack or they are switching to heroin as 

their primary drug. In addition, sources report 

that at-risk youth who may have been likely to 

try crack in an earlier era are now trying 

heroin. 

• Double-breasting --joint distribution of 

heroin and cocaine -- continues to rise. These 

dealers are usually young, entrepreneurial non- 

• Crack use is stable though it remains the 

dominant drug in most markets. Crack users 

are an older cohort than they were in the early 

1990s, indicating fewer initiates. 

• The price of crack is dropping in most areas. 

Pieces or rocks which sold for $10-20 may 

now sell for as little as $3-5. In Texas, "shavings" or small crumbling pieces are available 

for even lower prices. However, lowered 

prices appear to have had little impact on a 

continued decline in popularity. 

• Sources in Denver and Miami report that 

crack has gained a reputation as a "junkie" drug 

among young, new drug users, and this has 

contributed to a decline in its popularity. 

• Cocaine used in powdered form is reappearing in some areas (i.e., Baltinaore, San Antonio/E1 Paso) after a long period of low availability. The renewed interest is primarily 

among middle-class users. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY i 
Marijuana 

• Marijuana continues to be widely abused, 

though the greatest concentration of use is 

among youth. Young marijuana users often 

use a number of other drugs including MDMA, 

hallucinogens, and alcohol. 

• Varieties of "blunts," (marijuana wrapped in 

cigar packaging) continue to crop up. Blunts 

may be just a larger form of the traditional 

"joint." They may also contain marijuana 

mixed with other drugs -- such as PCP, crack, 

or heroin -- or be dipped in substances like 

cough syrup or even cleaning products. These 

enhanced blunts are marketed as special 

products and command a higher price than 

untreated blunts. 

• The price of marijuana has dropped in the 

Southwest Border region, in part because large 

local harvests have reached the market. 

report an increase in the number of young 

marijuana clients who abuse inhalants. 

Emerging Drugs 

• Methamphetamine use continues to rise in the 

west and Southwest and in Hawaii. Users are 

most often White males in their twenties, often 

in blue collar occupations. Recent seizures of 

large quantities of precursor materials along 

the Southwest Border suggest an increase in 

domestic production of methamphetamine. 

• The use of"club drugs" continues in many 

areas (i.e., suburban New York and Maryland, 

Miami, Austin, Baltimore, Cleveland, and New 

York City). Club drugs are used by young, 

middle-class users who are into the "rave" or 

nightclub scene. The category includes: 

prescription drugs; hallucinogens; and in some 

areas, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetanaine. 

• Treatment providers report that approximately one-third of all clients in treatment for 

marijuana abuse are under 20 years old, and 

over 75 percent of them also have problems 

with alcohol abuse. Treatment providers also 

• Inhalant abuse is rising among young people. 

"Huffing" of glue, paint, aerosols, and cleaning 

fluids is becoming more popular among 

adolescents in some areas (i.e., Washington, 

D.C., Columbia, and San Antonio/E1 Paso). 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY ii 
Table of Contents 

Highlights 

List of Tables 

Introduction 

i ,****,o°,**.o**°,**o°o.ooo**°°.o°°°,oo,°Q°oo,o.*°*°°*l*°****l,o,*l, 

............................................................... iv 

.................................................................1 

Description of Sources ......................................................... 2 

Trends in Drug Use: Winter 1997 ............................................... 3 

PART I: HEROIN ............................................................ 3 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic Sources (Table 1) ............................ 3 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 2) ......................................... 5 

Treatment Providers (Table 3) .............................................. 5 

PART II: COCAINE ......................................................... 6 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic Sources (Table 4) ............................ 7 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 5) ......................................... 8 

Treatment Providers (Table 6) .............................................. 9 

PART III: MARIJUANA ..................................................... 10 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic Sources (Table 7) ........................... 10 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 8) ........................................ 11 

Treatment Providers (Table 9) ............................................. 12 

PART IV: EMERGING DRUGS (Tables 10 & 11) ................................ 12 

Developments in Heroin Use Patterns ........................................... 14 

Conclusions ................................................................. 15 

Tables ..................................................................... 17 

Appendix: Pulse Check Methodology 

o°° 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY lu 
List of Tables 

Table 1: 

Table 2: 

Table 3: 

Table 4: 

Table 5: 

Table 6: 

Table 7: 

Table 8: 

Table 9: 

Table 10: 

Table 11: 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Heroin ..................... 18 

Law Enforcement Report on Heroin .................................... 21 

Treatment Providers Report on Heroin Users in Treatment ................ 24 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Cocaine/Crack .............. 25 

Law Enforcement Report on Cocaine/Crack ............................. 28 

Treatment Providers Report on Cocaine/Crack Users in Treatment .......... 31 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana ................. 32 

Law Enforcement Report on Marijuana ................................. 35 

Treatment Providers Report on Marijuana Users in Treatment ............. 38 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Emerging Drugs ........... 39 

Law Enforcement Report on Emerging Drugs ........................... 40 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY iV 
Introduction 

The Pulse Check is published twice each 

year by the Office of National Drug Control 

Policy (ONDCP). Since its first publication in 

1992, the goal of each Pulse Check has been 

to capture current information about drug 

abuse and drug markets from people in the 

field: drug researchers, law enforcement 

officers, and substance abuse treatment providers. Approximately 90 100 sources from all 

parts of the country are consulted for this 

report. 

The Pulse Check is not a population-based 

survey and should not be considered a substitute for this type of research. Rather, it is 

designed to provide a concise, qualitative 

description of the drug scene so that policy 

makers and researchers are aware of changes 

or trends as they develop. Pulse Check findings often are corroborated by longer term 

statistical survey research. 

The Pulse Check is conducted by Dr. Dana 

Hunt and staffofAbt Associates. Information 

is collected through lengthy conversations with 

drug ethnographers and epidemiologists; law 

enforcement agents; and drug treatment providers across the country. The first two sets of 

sources are selected to represent various 

regions of the country and generally are the 

same reporters each round of calls. Treatment 

providers are selected randomly from a national directory of treatment programs, and 

represent both small and large programs across 

the country. Thus they are a unique group for 

each Pulse Check. 

Methods of data collection and topics of 

discussion are described in the appendix. 

Findings are summarized in nalTative form, and 

then presented in detailed tables at the end of 

the report. This issue also includes a special 

section on developments in heroin use patterns. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY l 
Description of Sources 

All Pulse Check sources are asked to 

describe their impressions about changes and 

trends in the use and markets for heroin, 

cocaine, marijuana, and emerging drugs. 

Nine ethnographers and epidemiologists 

were contacted for this report. In this issue, 

ethnographic/epidemiologic sources reported 

from: Bridgeport, Connecticut; Atlanta, 

Georgia; San Francisco, California; Orange 

County, New York; Denver, Colorado; San 

Antonio/E1 Paso, Texas; Miami, Florida; 

Seattle, Washington; and Austin, Texas. For 

clarity, Orange County, New York will be 

referred to as New York State in the 

ethnographers' reports and corresponding 

tables in order to distinguish that it is a suburban rather than urban area. The appendix lists 

all sources contacted. 

In this issue, representatives of police 

departments reported from ten cities: Cleveland, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, 

Illinois; New York, New York; Bridgeport, 

Connecticut; Miami, Florida; San Antonio, 

Texas; Trenton, New Jersey; Columbia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. For security 

reasons, the names of law enforcement contacts 

are not published. 

Sixty-eight substance abuse treatment 

providers were contacted for this issue. Treatment providers were selected randomly from 

a national database of providers. They represent both small and large programs from all 

regions of the country. The appendix describes 

how they are selected and the types of information they provide. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 2 
Trends in Drug Use: Winter 1997 

PART I: HEROIN 

The rise in the availability of higher purity 

heroin and increased use that began in Northeastern cities in the early 1990s has now 

reached all areas of the country. In this round 

of calls, some sources report increases in the 

number of heroin users entering treatment 

facilities as well as increased numbers of 

emergency room episodes and overdose deaths 

related to heroin. Law enforcement sources 

report that heroin is part of both the street drug 

trade and the club drug market and is being 

sold by a wider range of dealers who are likely 

to sell both heroin and cocaine. In short, 

heroin has made a comeback ahnost everywhere, and it is no longer confined to older 

addicts from another generation of drug users. 

Many sources report that it is once again a 

flourishing part of the drug culture in their 

areas. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic 

Sources (Table 1) 

Sources report that heroin use is increasing 

or high in all areas. Sources from areas across 

the country, such as Seattle, Miami, New York 

State, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Austin 

report that the presence of heroin is rising in 

their areas. Bridgeport and Denver sources 

report that heroin is stable at a high level. As 

has been reported in past Pulse Checks, the 

majority of heroin users are still long-term 

users who inject, but there is an increasing 

number of young, new users who primarily 

snort the drug. 

Reporters in Bridgeport, Atlanta, and 

Miami indicate that there is evidence that some 

crack users are switching to heroin. These 

crack users may be older users who have 

turned to heroin to supplement their crack use, 

or at-risk youth who may have become heavy 

crack users in an earlier era, but now experiment with heroin due to its high availability. 

This is significant because there has traditionally been two different types of user groups for 

heroin and crack. The Bridgeport source 

describes some young crack users' claims that 

they started using heroin as an "antidote" to 

crack, touting its cahning effect, only to find 

that they had later developed a heroin habit. 

The differences between the two groups are 

emphasized in the comments of the Atlanta 

source, who reports that older heroin users are 

uncomfortable with crack users who switch to 

heroin or add it to their drug use. These 

longer-term heroin users are forming their own 

"shooting galleries" (a more traditional setting 

for heroin users), rather than frequenting "get 

off houses," locations for both heroin and crack 

use. In addition, young users in Atlanta claim 

that they snort partially because they are unable 

to find older users who willing to teach them 

to inject. This is described in more detail in 

the special section on changes in heroin use 

patterns at the end of this report. 

For the first time, San Antonio/E1 Paso, 

Miami, Seattle, and New York State sources 

report a rise in the number of emergency room 

(ER) episodes and overdose deaths in their 

areas, primarily anaong older addicts, in the last 

six months. The most recent Drug Abuse 

Warning Network (DAWN) data (for 1995) 

show that the proportion of heroin-related ER 

episodes accounted for by persons 35 and older 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 3 
has more than tripled since 1978, and now 

accounts for 55 percent of all such episodes. 

In short, few older users are novices. They are 

more often persons who have abused heroin for 

many years, or users who have returned to 

drugs after years of abstinence. Particularly in 

the latter case, users may not be accustomed to 

the increased purity of today's heroin and may 

overdose. 

Four sources report that "double-breasting" --joint sales of heroin and cocaine -- 

occurs in their areas (i.e., Atlanta, Bridgeport, 

San Francisco, and San Antonio/E1 Paso). For 

example, in Atlanta, until recently, crack was 

available everywhere while heroin was sold 

only in a few neighborhoods. Now both drugs 

are available in many neighborhoods throughout the city. In Bridgeport, joint sellers of 

heroin and cocaine are generally in their early 

twenties, not users themselves, and orgmlized 

into crews. The Bridgeport ethnographer 

reports that despite recent police crackdowns 

in dealing areas, there is still a high volume of 

sales of both heroin and cocaine. The majority 

of dealers sell powdered cocaine, crack, and 

heroin. However, the heroin volume has 

increased over the last year and has overcome 

the once dominant position of crack. The 

ethnographer reports that in selling both drugs, 

"these guys talk about making crazy money all 

night long -- real mad loot." The success 

which results from selling both drugs in an 

organized fashion is attracting young, individual entrepreneurs as well as more organized 

groups or gangs. 

Sources in Miami, Seattle, and Bridgeport 

report that the purity of heroin has risen in their 

areas. For example, there was considerably 

more low grade or heavily cut heroin ("scramble") available in Connecticut six months ago; 

now there is little deviation from the high end 

product on the street. Even in Atlanta, where 

purity has declined somewhat in the past six 

months, it is still over 50 percent. Purity of 

heroin is high everywhere except the Southwest Border region where there is little or no 

Southeast Asian or South American heroin; 

both sources in Texas report that there is only 

black tar heroin in the region. However, there 

have been some indications that a higher purity 

Mexican black tar heroin, that can be snorted, 

has emerged in Texas. This appears to be an 

attempt to compete with the higher purity 

varieties that are available in other regions. 

The street unit price remains around $10-20 

for 1/10-2/10 gram bags, balloons, or paper in 

most areas. Larger quantities like "eightballs" 

(1/8 ounce units) or bundles for ten $10 bags 

are also available through many street level 

dealers. 

New users typically begin by snorting -- 

which is only possible with high purity powder. Since high purity powder is widely 

available, young or novice users often initiate 

use this way. However, if they continue, and 

dependence is established, they are likely to 

switch to the more efficient method of injection, or to a combination of injection and 

snorting. In the Southwest Border region, 

typically only low purity Mexican black tar 

heroin is available, therefore, all users, even 

novices, inject. Established users always inject 

the drug. There have been reports of more 

creative ways to use heroin; in the San Antonio/E1 Paso area, some users dissolve it and 

squirt it intra-nasally. Some users in Atlanta 

dissolve crack along with heroin and inject it 

in a crack/heroin speedball, or sprinlde heroin 

over a piece of crack and smoke it. 

In Miami, there is still far less consumption than in other areas, but use is rising 

nonetheless. Heroin is appearing in "after 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 4. 
hours" clubs where it is used to enhance the 

"partying" activity of a young, affluent clientele. These users are often injecting or skinpopping (i.e., injecting a drug under the skin 

into soft tissue rather than directly into the 

bloodstream) in places where injection marks 

are not apparent, such as between the toes, to 

avoid the appearance of being an injection drug 

user. 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 2) 

Six of the ten law enforcement sources 

report that the availability of heroin is high in 

their areas (i.e., Baltimore, Chicago, New 

York, Bridgeport, Washington, D.C., and 

Columbia); the other three describe heroin 

availability as stable. In Baltimore, the number 

of arrests related to heroin has tripled. Police 

sources report that the drug is showing up at 

unlikely places as city dealers move into the 

cotmty and is even appearing at some area high 

schools. Washington, D.C. police sources 

report that they are "starting to see heroin like 

we used to see crack." The expanded presence 

of heroin is evident in many ways: more busts 

of dealers at all levels; more paraphernalia or 

evidence of use on the streets; and more 

arrestees for all crimes being heroin users. 

Most law enforcement sources report that 

the majority of heroin users are "old timers" 

(older, long-term users who inject). However, 

sources in all areas report that they see new, 

young users, who are most often snorting. In 

general, users represent all ethnicities and both 

genders. New York police report that young 

club goers are starting to use heroin in addition 

to the many popular club drugs. "[T]he ones 

who are into designer drugs" are now experimenting with snorting heroin. Like the 

etlmographers, law enforcement sources state 

that heroin dealers are now more evident in 

club areas as there is money to be made in this 

market. 

Sellers vary according to their market. In 

most cases they are young males, and dealers 

of varying ethnicities sell in their respective 

neighborhoods. Along the Texas border, 

sellers are typically linked to the Mexican 

Mafia, though unrelated selling "families" have 

made inroads into the market. In the Baltimore/Washington area, heroin is sold more 

frequently in open air markets along with 

cocaine. Bridgeport police report that they 

increasingly find dealers with many different 

drugs for sale, rather than geographically 

distinct drug markets. 

Street level prices remain stable at 

$10-20/bag and street level purity is reportedly 

high (20-50%) in most areas. Again, the 

exception is the Southwest Border, where there 

is only black tar heroin available; its purity is 

typically below 5 percent at the street level. 

Treatment Providers (Table 3) 

Treatment providers in three regions 

(Northeast, Midwest, and West/Southwest) 

report that the number of clients who enter 

treatment for heroin abuse has risen since the 

last Pulse Check. This rise was concentrated 

in the Northeast (Region 1) and the 

West/Southwest (Region 4), where 62 percent 

and 44 percent of programs, respectively, 

report more heroin clients than the last Pulse 

Check. Even programs in rural areas of the 

country, where there has traditionally been 

little or no heroin use report some clients 

entering treatment with heroin abuse problems. 

In areas where the number of heroin 

clients increased the most -- the Northeast and 

the West/Southwest -- approximately half of 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 5 
the clients inject and the other half snort. A 

California program director stated that he was 

amazed that 85 percent of his heroin treatment 

clients reported that they primarily snort the 

drug given that only a few years ago snorting 

heroin was "almost unheard of." In contrast, 

a large program in Washington state provides 

a different profile: 35 percent of the clients are 

heroin users; of those, 70 percent are injecting. 

However, these clients are not the older heroin 

addicts who have injected for years, but young, 

fairly new users. A program director in Oklahoma City notes that the progression from first 

use, to addiction and then to treatment has 

become quicker due to the availability of high 

pulity heroin: "They are 'more hooked sooner' 

• . . the purity of the drug damages them 

quicker•" This results in a younger population 

seeking treatment for heroin abuse• 

Over 45 percent of heroin treatment clients 

in all regions are over 31 years old. This is 

consistent with the fact that most heroin users 

are older, long-term drug abusers. A large 

Brooklyn program reports that over 50 percent 

of their clients who report heroin as their 

primary drug of abuse are over 40 years old. 

Programs in Massachusetts and Missouri report 

similar statistics -- three-fourths of clients are 

over 30, with one-half over 40. In general, it 

takes months or even years of use before a 

narcotics user reaches such a point of" burnout" or life problems that he or she seeks 

treatment• 

However, when programs report an 

increasing number of addicts in their early 

twenties, this shows that the age of initiation 

and/or serious abuse was during teen years. 

Several programs in the Mid-Atlantic and 

South report more heroin clients, and the 

majority of these new clients are younger 

users. For example, two large suburban 

Maryland programs report that the lmmber of 

heroin clients is increasing, and over half of 

these new clients are under 20 years old. The 

West/Southwest region also reports more 

young heroin clients in the 20-30 year-old 

range than in previous Pulse Checlc reports. A 

treatment provider in San Francisco comments 

that in that program, "heroin users are getting 

younger and cocaine users are getting older." 

As has been reported in prior Pulse 

Checks, most heroin users in treatment have 

had prior treatment. This indicates that they 

are, by and large, experienced drug users• In 

the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic/South, and Midwest, over seventy percent of clients have had 

prior treatment, and even in the 

West/Southwest, this proportion is close to 60 

percent• 

Alcohol is still the most commonly mentioned secondary drug in all regions, followed 

by cocaine and marijuana. The popularity of 

amphetamines is apparent in the higher percentage of amphetamine mentions (31%) for 

programs in the West/Southwest region. Some 

programs in places like Iowa and Missouri 

report clients using methanaphetamine. 

PART I1: COCAINE 

According to most Pulse Check sources, 

the market for cocaine and crack appears to 

have stabilized, though in many areas it is at a 

high level, and in a couple of areas, there has 

been a re-emergence of cocaine powder after 

a period of low availability. While crack 

cocaine is still the dominant illicit drug on the 

national scene, it appears that crack users are 

an aging group. Some sources report that crack 

use has become unfashionable, and has developed the image of a "junkie" or "burnout" drug 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 6 
among young, new drug users. As a result, 

these users are not as likely to try crack, though 

they may be trying heroin instead. Prices for 

both cocaine HC1 and crack appear to be stable 

or declining, though this has not led to a 

noticeable effect on use. The proportion of 

clients who enter treatment for cocaine/crack 

abuse appears to have remained stable since the 

last Pulse Check. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic 

Sources (Table 4) 

Seven out of nine sources say that the use 

of cocaine, both in powdered form (HC1) and 

as crack, is stable in their areas though four 

(i.e., San Antonio/E1 Paso, Seattle, Denver, and 

Atlanta) say that it is at a high level. The 

source in Atlanta reports that crack is still "by 

far the dominant drug on the market" but its 

use has begun to stabilize. Only New York 

State and Austin sources say that it has gone 

down since the last Pulse Check. 

Cocaine and crack still attract a wider 

variety of users than heroin. Most areas report 

that there are younger and older users, of all 

ethnicities and both sexes. In Miami, Bridgeport, and Atlanta, there continue to be some 

new, young users, particularly in the club 

scene, where cocaine smoked in powdered 

form remains popular when available. In 

Texas, younger, middle class White or Hispanic users are also attracted to cocaine powder 

rather than crack, which is more frequently 

consumed by older African-American users. 

The Miami reporter notices that "crack 

users, both under and over 30, are regarded as 

the neighborhood burnouts, even in inner-city 

areas." This was echoed by sources in Denver, 

Atlanta, and San Francisco. San Francisco and 

Denver sources find crack users to be an 

"aging" crowd, with few younger, new users 

attracted to it. Among at-risk Denver youth, 

who might have been attracted to crack in the 

past, the drug is becoming unfashionable. 

Unfortunately, the trendy alternative in that 

area is increasingly another stimulant, methamphetamine. The exception to this trend appears 

to be in Austin, where there has been a recent 

increase m the number of young Hispanic 

females using crack or free-basing HC1. 

When cocaine is used, smoking it as crack 

is still the most common method everywhere. 

In this Pulse Check, there are more reports of 

users combining crack with heroin, either 

smoked or injected. Users who inject cocaine 

are primarily heroin users who add cocaine 

periodically in a speedball combination. That 

is, their primary drug is heroin, not cocaine. 

Ethnographers fiom Texas, New York, and 

Georgia describe users transforming crack into 

a soluble form and injecting it. In suburban 

New York and Atlanta, some crack users 

dissolve crack in vinegar and water and iNect 

it or crush crack pieces into a fine powder and 

snort it. While smoking crack has not been 

routinely associated with heroin use, these 

transformation methods are making crack an 

easy companion drug for heroin, either by 

injection or snorting. 

Some users report that they consume 

heroin to reduce the overstimulation associated 

with heavy crack use; others are switching to 

heroin as it becomes more plentiful and as easy 

or easier to obtain than crack or cocaine in 

powdered form. This is described in the 

special section on developments in patterns of 

heroin use. 

The cocaine/crack market continues to 

merge with the heroin market in some areas 

(i.e., Bridgeport, San Francisco, San AntoOFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 7 
nio/E1 Paso, and Seattle). While the two 

markets have traditionally been distinct, with 

crack sellers typically being young, non-users 

who may be in a gang, and heroin sellers being 

older users who distribute to a network of 

acquaintances, there is now considerable 

overlap between the two. In Bridgeport and in 

Seattle, double-breasted dealing is becoming 

more organized. The majority of sellers in 

these areas are not users themselves, are most 

often young males, and are organized in crews 

or gangs. In Bridgeport, dealers have closed 

the market to new distributors, making it 

difficult for independent operators to sell and 

producing widespread turf battles. 

By contrast, in Atlanta, the dealing structure is not highly specialized and appears 

organized more loosely along ethnic lines (e.g., 

African-Alnericans deal crack; Whites deal 

methamphetamine). The Atlanta source notes 

that the crack trade of the 1980s, with its 

introduction of very small and inexpensive 

units at the street level, has forced dealers of 

all drugs to market in smaller units in order to 

attract users with only ten or twenty dollars to 

spend. 

In Texas, crack and HC1 distribution are 

managed by Mexican dealers with ties to 

established criminal organizations (the Mexican syndicate and the Mexican Mafia) that 

operate on both sides of the border. Mid-level 

distribution of powdered cocaine is managed 

by Whites, and street-level distribution of crack 

is handled by Hispanic and African-American 

youths, some with gang involvement. 

Prices for both HC 1 and crack appear to 

be dropping, though there are regional variations. In Denver, a piece of crack sells for 

approximately $5-10; in Atlanta, a piece sells 

for $3-5; and in Texas, pieces can start as low 

as $1. In Texas, the $5 and $10 piece of crack, 

which was a staple of the market, is now less 

common. Instead, "shavings" of crack are sold 

even more inexpensively. Atlanta also reports 

active competition between the crack and 

methamphetamine markets, with comparable 

prices attracting the same custolners. 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 5) 

Police sources in four areas (i.e, Baltimore, San Antonio/E1 Paso, Trenton, and 

Cleveland) report that cocaine and crack 

availability has gone up as of this Pulse CDeck. 

Baltimore law enforcement sources find that 

crack is the drug most often involved in arrests 

and that cocaine HC1 is beginning to appear on 

the streets again after a period of low availability. 

Four police contacts describe cocaine use 

and availability as stable (i.e., New York, 

Miami, Washington, DC, and Columbia), and 

two report a slight decline (i.e., Chicago, 

Bridgeport). Police sources in New York 

describe crack as "in every neighborhood, in 

our best high schools, in our best colleges." 

However, sources in Chicago report that 

cocaine is currently not as available as in 

previous reports. In fact, sellers have reduced 

the amount of cocaine used in production of 

crack so much so that there have been seizures 

of crack that do not contain any cocaine. That 

is, the "crack" is made up completely of 

substances used to "cut" the drug. Miami 

police note that seizure statistics and intelligence flom infonnants suggest that there is less 

cocaine available at the wholesale level. 

Like ethnographic and epidemiologic 

sources, police report a diverse group of users 

of crack and HC1. Crack appears to be somewhat more popular among older users, confirming etlmographic reports that new users are 

less likely to try crack. Powdered cocaine is 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 8 
somewhat more popular among users under 30. 

San Antonio and Bridgeport police report a 

recent increase in use among middle-class 

users. The Baltimore source also notes that 

they are seeing some new young users of 

cocaine, snorting it in powdered form. In 

Bridgeport, police find a number of White 

suburban users coming into the dealing areas 

of the city from nearby affluent communities 

to buy both crack and cocaine powder. _ 

Law enforcement sources in suburban 

Maryland indicate that synthetic substances 

("designer powder") are appearing on the 

market and being sold as cocaine. Baltimore 

police sources report that after a period of low 

availability of both HC1 and crack, supplies are 

up again and many .dealers are now offering 

users anything from one or two "baggies" to 

multi-ounce quantities. 

In Florida and along the Southwest 

border, middle- and upper-level dealers are 

likely to be Hispanic. In all areas, street-level 

dealers are likely to match local demographics 

for both crack and powder. 

In Bridgeport, Trenton, and Washington, 

D.C., there is continuing evidence of dealers 

selling both heroin and cocaine. This confirms 

ethnographic reports of double-breasting in 

those areas. However, in Washington, D.C., 

these sellers are older users, unlike in other 

areas where double-breasting tends to be 

conducted by young, entrepreneurial non-users. 

Law enforcement sources report that 

cocaine prices remain stable since the last 

Pulse Check. At the street level, a vial containing small pieces or a rock of crack ranges from 

$5-10 and a gram of cocaine HC1 costs from 

$70-100. At the kilo level, prices range from 

$18,000 along the Southwest border to 

$20,000-25,000 in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

All police sources report that purity is high at 

larger purchase levels, though variable at street 

level. 

Treatment Providers (Table 6) 

Treatment providers everywhere report 

that approximately the same proportion of 

clients enter treatment for cocaine or crack 

abuse as the last Pulse Chec/c The proportion 

is highest in the Northeast (37%) and lowest in 

the Mid-Atlantic and South (21%). The 

Northeast and West/Southwest have the largest 

percentage of programs that are experiencing 

a decrease in the proportion of cocaine clients 

entering treatment. 

Tile majority of cocaine treatment clients 

(78%-93%) are either snorting cocaine in 

powdered form or smoking the drug as crack. 

The Mid-Atlantic and South have a somewhat 

higher proportion of injectors than other 

regions, but this proportion is still relatively 

low (22%), which confirms ethnographic and 

police reports that users who inject cocaine 

only are rare. Treatment providers state that 

the majority of cocaine injectors have a concurrent heroin addiction, and typically add cocaine 

as a secondary drug in a speedball combination. These individuals are more likely to 

appear for treatment of heroin as their primaw 

problem, though they are also abusers of 

cocaine. Several treatment providers also 

mentioned that more crack clients appear to 

suffer from mental illness than users of other 

substances. 

The most colmnonly reported "other" 

drugs used by clients in treatment for cocaine 

abuse are alcohol and marijuana. Three providers fi-om the West/Southwest report that 

cocaine appears to be a substitute for methamOFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 9 
phetamine for many users, given the enormous 

popularity ofmethamphetamine in that region. 

When meth is not available, these users may 

look for cocaine. Methamphetamine, however, 

is more desirable since it is generally less 

expensive and longer-acting than cocaine. 

Programs in the West and Southwest report 

that, on average, 26 percent of clients also have 

a problem with amphetamines. 

Cocaine and crack clients in treatment are 

also an "aging population" as the drug becomes 

less popular with younger users. Treatment 

providers in the West/Southwest and in the 

Northeast report that a large proportion of 

clients (45-60%) are over 30. One large 

California program reports that 50 percent of 

their cocaine clients are over 40 years old. 

PART II1: MARIJUANA 

In most areas, the use of marijuana appears 

to be stable or rising. Marijuana attracts a 

diverse groups of users, though the majority is 

young. One Pulse Check source comments 

that users may not even consider marijuana a 

drug -- its use is widespread, and it is a 

constant where other illicit drugs are being 

consumed. High quality marijuana, including 

domestic varieties, is available in nlost areas. 

One popular method of using marijuana is in 

the form of "blunts," which are hollowed-out 

cigars that contain marijuana alone or marijuana combined with other licit and illicit 

substances. Treatment providers report a 

higher proportion of treatment clients who 

enter their facilities for marijuana abuse, and 

about one-third of these clients are under the 

age of 20. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologic 

Sources (Table 7) 

Only two of nine ethnographic sources 

(i.e., suburban New York and Seattle) report 

that marijuana use is up in their areas, while 

the other seven report that it is stable. While 

the majority of users are young (teens and 

twenties), marijuana attracts a diverse group of 

users of all ages, ethnlcltles, and income 

groups. As the Bridgeport source notes, 

marijuana is "the most widely used illegal drug 

in every social set." The Seattle source reports 

that in a large alcohol and drug hotline service, 

marijuana is most commonly mentioned drug, 

with one-half of all the calls from young 

people being related to marijuana. 

Many maruuana users consume other 

drugs. Marijuana use among teens and young 

adults is often associated with use of hallucinogens, MDMA, prescription drugs or alcohol. 

Sources in Texas, California, and Georgia 

report that young users combine marijuana 

with a variety of substances such as crack, PCP 

or heroin and roll it into "blunts." Blunts are 

hollowed out cigars that contain marijuana 

alone or marijuana in combination with other 

substances. In Texas, blunts may be soaked in 

embahning fluid or dipped in codeine cough 

syrup, with the latter combination dubbed a 

"Candy blunt." While addifig little to the 

phannacological effect of marijuana, these 

combinations or dipping solutions are effective 

marketing devices. The specially treated blunts 

have exotic, recognizable nalncs ("Amps, Fry, 

Primos, Swisher Sweets, Woolies") and command a higher price that untreated blunts. 

In the East and South, source distributors 

of imported product are often Jamaican while 

local youths or young adults distribute domestic varieties. In the Southwest, young Hispanic 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY ] I) 
dealers distribute Mexican marijuana, and adult 

Anglos distribute Colombian and locally 

grown marijuana. Sellers of marijuana are a 

more varied group than sellers of heroin or 

cocaine, which reflects its diverse user population. 

The Bridgeport source notes that neither 

the volume nor the frenzied pace of sales that 

characterize the heroin and cocaine market is 

part of the marijuana trade. For example, 

while it may be easy to find marijuana for sale 

during daylight hours or on the weekends, it is 

not a "round-the-clock" trade like heroin and 

cocaine distribution. Since marijuana is a 

bulkier product for dealers to carry, most street 

level sales are in small amounts (e.g., individual joints or quantities of less than an ounce). 

Larger quantities are available in most areas, 

but the sale is usually handled by beeper or 

delivery to a predetermined location. 

Sources in San Francisco and Bridgeport 

note that marijuana has become more expensive recently due to decreased availability. 

However, in Texas, prices dropped as both the 

local and Mexican harvest became available. 

Typical street sales are $10 bags that produce 

1-3 marijuana cigarettes. In Texas, larger 

quantities sell at $450-800/pound for domestic 

marijuana and $700-3,000/pound for Colombian marijuana. All police sources report that 

the marijuana available in street markets is of 

high quality, particularly the local hydroponically grown varieties. The Denver source 

reports that these domestic varieties, now 

widely available in that area, are considered a 

great improvement over other domestic or 

Mexican varieties. 

Law Enforcement Sources (Table 8) 

Unlike the etlmographic sources, the 

majority of law enforcement sources report an 

increase in marijuana use. Police sources in 

Washington D.C. report that use has risen so 

drastically that the regional U.S. Attorney has 

asked for an increase in penalties for marijuana 

trafficking. Only law enforcement sources in 

Miami, New York, and Bridgeport describe use 

in their areas as "stable." 

Police sources find marijuana users to be 

a diverse group, though the majority are teens 

and young adults. The Baltimore law enforcement source comments that people of all ages 

are using marijuana and that it "is not being 

seen as a drug." He finds that among users of 

other drugs, marijuana use is a constant. Police 

sources in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, 

Cleveland, and suburban Maryland report that 

combinations of marijuana with PCP and 

cocaine are popular in their areas, most often 

in the blunt form described above. 

Law enforcement sources in Trenton, 

Miami, and Bridgeport report a predominance 

of Jamaican sellers, though distributors in all 

areas are described as a more diverse group 

than for other drugs. There are a large number 

of local distributors, typically teens or young 

adults, who sell locally grown products. The 

Baltimore source describes the structure of the 

distribution network as "made up of extremes," 

that is, there are upper level dealers -- often 

Jamaican or Hispanic -- and lower level 

dealers who are local "home growers," with 

very little in between. The former are more 

likely to deal in specific inner-city areas and in 

large quantities; the latter deal in a more 

geographically scattered market, often relying 

on established customers or well-known ties 

for distribution. In addition, local sources are 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY |] 
also obtaining marijuana through the mail. 

There have been seizures in Mid-Atlantic cities 

of marijuana mailed from Arizona and New 

Mexico via Federal Express and regular mail. 

In Trenton, there is evidence of increased 

selling of marijuana by crack distributors, a 

new phenomenon in that area. 

Marijuana is inexpensive in Texas and in 

the Southwest Border region due to recent 

harvests of local crops. Prices have dropped 

in other areas as well (i.e., Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Trenton). New York police 

report that expensive chemically treated 

marijuana is available, and sells for 

$2,000-4,000/pound, or $10-15 for individual 

cigarettes. 

Treatment Providers (Table 9) 

In all regions except the West/Southwest, 

there has been a slight increase ill clients 

entering treatment for marijuana abuse since 

the last Pulse Check. The change is most 

evident in the Mid-Atlantic and South, where 

79 percent of programs reported an increase. 

Treatment providers describe a younger treatment population for marijuana than for heroin 

or cocaine. Almost one third are under twenty, 

and more than one half have no prior treatment 

experience. In Texas, 70 percent of the adolescent admissions name marijuana as their 

primary drug of abuse. 

Alcohol is the most common secondary 

drug used by marijuana clients in all regions, 

followed by cocaine. One treatment provider 

comments that the real question is how many 

people whose "real problem is alcohol, but who 

also use other drugs" enter substance abuse 

treatment. This is illustrated clearly by the 

case of Alaska, where all of the treatment 

providers state that while marijuana is their 

most common illegal drug problem, its abuse 

is ahnost always secondary to severe alcohol 

problems. 

Several treatment providers mention an 

increased use of inhalants among their young 

treatment clients, often in conjunction with 

marijuana. "Huffing" of glue, aerosols, paint 

and cleaning fluids is becoming popular among 

adolescents and some young adults, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and the 

West/Southwest. Huffing entails placing a 

substance m a bag or soda can to sniff or inhale 

the fumes. This produces a drunken, disoriented or sometimes hallucinogenic effect. 

Depending on the toxicity of substance inhaled, repeated use can also produce nausea, 

headaches and loss of consciousness. One 

Ohio source commented that young teens are 

particularly susceptible to inhalant abuse 

because they have less access to the illegal 

drugs used by older peers and ahnost unlimited 

access to the many household substances 

which can be inhaled. Parents who are aware 

of the dangers of sniffing glue may not realize 

the popularity of sniffing other substances like 

aerosols, Freon or common cleansers. 

PART IV: EMERGING DRUGS (Tables 

10 & 11) 

Methamphetamine and hallucinogens 

continue to be mentioned as emerging drugs in 

many areas across the country. Ethnographic 

sources in Denver, Seattle, and Austin cite the 

presence of meth in their areas, as do law 

enforcement sources in Washington, DC and 

Columbia. In Colorado, meth is the only drug 

for which treatment adlmssions have risen 

consistently over the past few years. The 

Denver ethnographic source reports that there 

are different groups of users: street users who 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 12 
inject repeatedly and are "going after the high 

continuously;" working class users who smoke 

the drug both recreationally and to stay awake 

or alert; and transient street youth who inject 

methamphetamine and use heroin sporadically. 

However, while patterns of use differ, all 

groups consist primarily of White males. The 

drug is readily available in that area and street 

sales of a gram ($120) are not uncommon. It 

is also available in smaller units costing $20, 

$40, and $60. 

Methamphetamine is also increasing in 

popularity in Atlanta and Seattle. Street 

dealers in Atlanta tout the drug as longer 

lasting than crack and vie for the same customers. The Atlanta source also reports that there 

is more methamphetamine in the rural areas of 

Georgia where production laboratories are 

located. Again, in this area, the methamphetamine market is dominated by Whites, who are 

the majority of buyers, manufacturers, and 

sellers. In Seattle, the majority of users are 

blue collar workers. There also is considerable 

use in the gay community and meth is found 

in malay gay bars or clubs in the area. The 

Seattle source notes the dangerous upward 

trend in unprotected sex and intravenous use 

of methamphetamine in the gay community, 

where HIV seroprevalence rates are already 

close to 50 percent. 

In Hawaii, treatment providers describe 

methamphetamine as a companion drug "for 

everything" in their area, where the drug has 

been well-established for several years. It is 

inhaled or smoked in its crystalline form 

("ice") and attracts a more diverse group of 

users than it does in any other State. As noted 

in the special methamphetamine report in the 

last Pulse Check, it is the major illicit drug of 

abuse for treatment admissions in Hawaii. 

Texas sources also report a substantial 

problem with methamphetanfine, particularly 

in the northeru part of the state. Police report 

that they expect to find more home laboratories 

or locally produced meth based on recent large 

seizures of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, 

two base substances in methamphetamine 

production. Texas sources report that two 

types oflnethamphetamine are being produced: 

a yellow product that is made in stainless steel 

equipment and preferred by injectors, and a 

white product, that is made in glass equipment 

and preferred by snorters. 

Methamphetamine has turned up less 

frequently in other areas. Although methamphetamine has traditionally been limited to the 

Western states, law enforcement sources report 

that the drug has been involved in arrests in 

suburban Maryland, New York City and 

Chicago. 

Hallucinogens and a variety of other 

club drugs were cited as emerging drugs by 

sources in many areas. Ethnographers and 

police sources in New York, Miami, Seattle, 

Cleveland and Baltimore all report the presence of LSD, MDMA ("Ecstasy"), or other 

club drugs. Police sources in suburban Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore describe 

a variety of drugs related to raves including 

MDMA, LSD and LSD-look alikes, Ketamine, 

and various legal and illegal drugs used in 

combination. For example, Maryland police 

described a rave-related arrest that involved 

prescription drugs, Ketamine, calcium tablets, 

methamphetamine, cocaine, caffeine, and a 

coffee grinder (presumably to concoct various 

combinations) in a single seizure. Baltimore 

and Washington, D.C. sources mentioned an 

unusual combination called "red rock Opium" 

that consists of caffeine, Robitussin cough 

syrup, sugar and a combination of tobacco and 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY ]3 
No Doz crushed and smoked together. Washington, D.C. police report that youth who 

attend raves are sucking on pacifiers soaked in 

LSD as well as "beaning"-- chewing coffee 

beans. 

Prices for "club drugs" like MDMA or 

Ketamine are fairly consistent across areas. 

MDMA, popular in New York and described 

as the "drug of choice in clubs" in Miami, costs 

approximately $20-30 per tablet dose and is 

distributed among a network of user/associates 

rather than through street sales. Ketamine has 

a similar price and distribution structure. 

Inhalant abuse was described as an 

emerging problem by law enforcement sources 

in Washington, D.C. and as a continuing 

problem by ethnographic sources in San 

Antonio/E1 Paso. In Texas, this takes the forrll 

of inhaling paint, fumes, glue or aerosols and 

is done by users of all ages. Along the border, 

inhalants are often combined with alcohol or 

marijuana. In Washington, D.C., "huffing" or 

inhaling is done almost exclusively by young 

users who use such things as aerosol cans 

(whipped cream), glue or Freon. Whether they 

are used alone or in combination, inhalants can 

quickly produce noticeable dysfunction and 

cognitive impairment. 

Illicitly used prescription drugs were 

described by sources in Baltimore, San Antonio, and Austin as emerging drugs. Rohypnol 

continues to be available in Texas and Florida, 

though its distribution has slowed somewhat 

in both areas due to changes in its legal status 

and pressure on Mexican pharmacies. However, other drugs that are only available by 

prescription in the United States, such as 

Ritalin, Clonapin and Lexotan, are still being 

diverted into illicit markets. In addition, the 

Austin source reports problems with abuse of 

the prescription drugs fenfluramine and 

phentermine, which are used in weight loss 

programs. 

Developments in Heroin Use Patterns 

Over the last few rounds of Pulse Check 

calls, there have been increasing reports of 

drug users "switching" from crack cocaine to 

heroin or "substituting" heroin with crack as 

their initial drug of choice. While heroin and 

powdered cocaine have long been used together in the speedball combination, the use of 

heroin with crack is not common. In this Pulse 

Check, ethnographic sources in Bridgeport, 

Atlanta, and Miami report rising evidence of 

all intersection between crack use and heroin 

use. These reports suggest two types of new 

behavior: the first is combination crack/heroin 

use that eventually leads to the user to switch 

to heroin, while the second relates more to the 

initial drug choice of new, young users. 

"Switching" is described by the Bridgeport 

ethnographer as occurring among (young) 

crack users who begin to use heroin to deal 

with tile overly wired feelings associated with 

heavy crack use. Heroin is a powerful depressant that purportedly "evens out" the agitated 

sensations of crack. Using even a relatively 

small amount of heroin over an extended 

period of time in this fashion can lead the user 

into physiological dependence, in a sense 

forcing the user to switch their primary drug of 

abuse to heroin. 

"Substituting" is occurring among young 

people who, in an earlier tnne, may have been 

attracted to crack, but are now more likely to 

use heroin. In general, young people initiate 

drug use with what is cheap, plentiful and 

considered "fashionable" in their areas. In the 

1980s and early 1990s that drug was crack, 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 14 
particularly in inner city areas where its distribution was highly organized, its low price 

made it within the financial reach of young 

users, and it had not yet fallen out of favor as 

"junkie" drug. Currently, a similar pattern is 

being observed with heroin in the Northeast 

and Mid-Atlantic areas, primarily in inner city 

areas. It is inexpensive, easily administered 

(i.e., snorted rather than taken intravenously) 

and is being aggressively marketed, often by 

persons who previously distributed cocaine 

and/or crack. At the same time, crack is 

increasingly characterized as unpopular and 

harder to find than heroin. 

Though the bulk of heroin consumers are 

still older users, young users have been described by all three types of Pulse Check 

sources. Like cocaine a decade earlier, heroin 

has achieved a mystique, counting among its 

users rock stars and young film stars. In many 

circles, it no longer carries the connotation of 

a "junkie" drug that it had for many years. Its 

presence has expanded in drug markets all over 

the country, and it is likely to remain attractive 

to both inexperienced and experienced drug 

users as they adapt to changing norms and 

market conditions. 

Conclusions 

According to Pulse Check sources, while 

cocaine, and particularly crack cocaine, continues to be the most widely abused illicit drug on 

the market, the market for cocaine has stabilized. As it developed a reputation as a "junkie" 

drug, cocaine has attracted less initiates. 

However, the market for heroin appears to be 

growing; sources in all regions of the country 

report that heroin use and availability are 

growing. Marijuana use, especially youth 

marijuana use, is also increasing. 

The growth in the availability of high 

purity heroin in large urban areas has had 

several consequences on the drug market. 

First, double breasted dealing continues in 

many areas, with dealers supplying both heroin 

and cocaine to users. Second, many young 

users are experimenting with heroin. These 

new, young users may be at-risk youth who, in 

an earlier era, probably would have been likely 

to use crack. They may also be middle-class 

teenagers or young adults who are part of the 

"rave" or club scene. Third, some older, longterm crack abusers are now switching from 

crack to heroin or substituting crack with 

heroin. 

Sources report that youth drug use is 

growing in many areas. Youth marijuana use, 

particularly in the forlTl of "blunts," continues 

to rise. "Club drugs" are also increasingly 

popular. The category of club drugs typically 

includes: hallucinogens, such as LSD, 

MDMA, and psychedelic mushrooms; prescliption drugs, such as Clonapin, Lexotan, and 

Rohypnol; and heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or marijuana, depending on availability. 

These drugs are taken in various combinations, 

and may be mixed with licit substances such 

as caffeine, coffee beans, and codeine cough 

syrup to enhance the total drug effect. In 

addition, some sources report an increase in the 

use of inhalants, such as Freon, glue, paint, and 

aerosols, by young people. 

Treatment providers report that the major 

illicit drug of abuse at admission continues to 

be cocaine. Most cocaine treatment clients are 

crack users; they tend to be an older population 

who are long-term drug abusers. There has 

been an increase in heroin abusers entering 

treatment facilities, especially in the Northeast 

and West/Southwest regions. Most heroin 

clients are older, long-terna heroin users who 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 15 
have had prior treatment. There has been a 

slight increase in all regions in marijuana abuse 

treatment clients, many of whom are young 

users with no prior treatment experience. 

Treatment providers notice that more of these 

young clients also have problems with inhalant 

abuse. Alcohol abuse continues to be a problem for almost every type of treatment client. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY ]6 
Tables 

Winter 1997 
Table 1 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Heroin 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Bridgeport, CT 

stable at a high level 

majority over 30 years 

old, but some new 

young (18-25) users 

apparent 

older users inject; 

some snorting among 

new users 

younger users may 

also use crack 

young (18-25) sellers; 

some gang activity; 

sellers often not users; 

double breasting 

continues 

$1 O/bag 

High purity heroin 

most available; rarely 

see "scramble" or 

heavily cut bags 

San Antonio/ 

E! Paso, TX 

up 

older Ctucano users; 

some young 

recreational users 

primardy injection or 

cooking down and 

squirting into nose 

cocaine 

crack 

Mexman Mafia and 

Syndicate; seeing 

more double breasting 

$10-$20/spoon 

$450-1/2 oz. 

low purity (black tar) 

Primarily Mexican 

brown herom 

available 

Seattle, WA 

up 

White, females 

increasing, 11130S; 

some new young users 

mjecnon 

cocaine 

purity has mcreased as 

prices drop; 

less than $1/mg pure 

New York State" 

up 

older users, White 

increased snorting but 

primarily mjecnon 

blunts 0.e., marijuana 

laced with heroin 

NYC dealers, and 

residents who travel tc 

NYC for supplies, are 

sources for suburban 

dealers and users 

Increased number of 

ER mentions and 

overdose deaths 

a The New York data describes drug use in suburban Orange County, rather than the city, and is based o11 

a study being conducted by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 18 
Table 1, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Heroin 

City 

Denver, CO Miami, FL Atlanta, GA 

Use stable up up 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase Amount/ 

Purity 

Other/Comments 

some young users, but 

primarily an older 

population 

injection, some 

smoking 

cocaine in speedball 

among older users 

gangs involved in 

street sales, tend to 

specialize in one drug 

$120-$140/gram 

$20/"p111" or 1/10 

of a gram 

marked increase in 

methamphetamlne 

use--injecting, 

smoking, snorting 

some new users; 

"old shooters" 

returning to use 

injection, skin 

popping (injecting 

into soft Ussue rather 

than veto) 

diverse sources: 

South American, 

Mexican 

increasing purity 

more ER reports and 

deaths attributable to 

heroin use 

African Americans, 

older White users, 

new young White 

users 

reJection; snorting 

among young users 

crack (with heroin 

sprinkled over it) 

dealers sell all drugs 

available at one tune 

$1 O/bag; recent 

reduction in purity 

heroin IS now 

available in almost all 

inner city neighborhoods, whereas 

before it was more 

localized 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY ]9 
Table 1, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Heroin 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Austin, TX 

up 

older, Anglo and 

Hispanic users; some 

young snorters 

injection, low amount 

snorting (maybe 3%) 

Mexican Americans 

or Mexican Natxonals 

black tar ($2,300- 

$5,300/oz.) 

a little white heroin; 

mainly Mexican 

brown and black tar; 

mcreased ER 

mentions and deaths 

San Francisco, CA 

up 

older addicts and new 

young users 

some convergence 

between heroan and 

crack markets 

high purity 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 2,0 
Table 2 

Law Enforcement Report on Heroin 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Baltimore, MD 

P.D. 

up 

wide range of users; 

older users, new 

young users more 

evident 

snorting 

injection 

cocaine 

prescription drugs 

Users have gone from 

shooting to snorting 

and back to shooting 

as heroin became 

available. Evidence 

of heroin being dealt 

with cocaine in open 

air markets 

Chicago, IL 

P.D. 

up 

young (20-30) users; 

predominantly African 

American males 

African American 

sellers 

$10-$15/bag 

20-30% pure 

less double breasting 

than a few months ago, 

though still occurring 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

up 

old tnne users, using 

mjechon; increasing 

number of new 

users (club goers) who 

are snorting 

inJection 

snorting 

MDMA 

Ketamme 

Neighborhood sales in 

high use areas, club 

sales 

$10/bag 

40-50% pure 

Bridgeport, CT 

P.D. 

up 

range of users; all 

ethnIcmes; more young 

users 

African Americans, 

Hispanlcs; sell both 

heroin and cocaine 

high purity 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 2] 
Table 2, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Heroin 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

City 

Miami, FL San Antonio, TX Trenton, NJ Washington, DC 

P.D. !P.D. P.D. P.D. 

stable, but at 

moderate to low 

level 

African American 

males; more 

young users 

African Americans who 

are also users 

$10/bag 

$120K/kilo 

high at kilo level 

stable 

mid 20sMOs 

gang members; 

Mexican Mafia; 

some unrelated 

"famlhes" ilow 

selling 

$800-$900/oz. 

(powder); 

$2,500-$3,000/oz. 

(black tar) 

3-4% pure 

stable at lngh level 

young (16-30 yrs. 

old) males, all 

ethnlcitles 

rejection 

suortmg 

heroin and cocaine 

sold together in 

Hispanic areas; 

various ethnlcltles 

sell 111 thmr respective nmghborhoods 

$18-$20/bag 

high purity at street 

level 

up 

African Americans 

25-50; more 

young users 

evident 

snorting 

reJection 

smoking 

older sellers 

deahng both 

heroin and cocaine 

$20-$40/bag 

$400-$600/800 mg 

"spoon" 

15-25% pure 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 22 
Table 2, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Heroin 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Columbia, MD 

P.D. 

up 

African American 

males & females; 

more young White 

males & females 

snorting 

injection 

cocaine 

young, African 

American males 

City 

Cleveland, OH 

P.D. 

shghtly down 

injection 

snorting 

cocaine 

Valium 

purity up 

$20/bag 

$600/gram 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 23 
Table 3 

Treatment Providers Report on Heroin Users in Treatment 

Region 

Clients w/drug listed as 

primary drug of abuse (%) 

Change since last report (%) 

increase 

no change 

decrease 

I: Northeast 

N=15 

37 

62 

38 

0 

II: Mid-Atlantic 

and South 

N=14 

12 

42 

58 

0 

III: Midwest 

N = 20 

11 

37 

53 

l0 

Clients injecting (%) 49 67 70 

Clients snorting/smoking (%) 51 33 30 

40 

33 

60 

27 

13 

0 

9 

30 

61 

28 

62 

10 

71 

29 

Other drugs abused 

(% chents who mention) 

cocaine 

marijuana 

alcohol 

tranquihzers 

amphetamines 

other 

Average by age (%) 

under 20 

21-30 

31+ 

Average by race/ethmcity (%) 

African-American 

White 

Hispamc & Other 

21 

29 

50 

21 

7 

7 

12 

31 

57 

35 

5 

6 

75 

25 

74 

26 

Average by sex (%) 

Male 

Female 

Prior treatment (%) 

Yes 

No 

81 

19 

35 

40 

55 

5 

10 

5 

18 

25 

57 

41 

54 

5 

73 

27 

73 

27 

IV: West/ 

Southwest 

N=19 

20 

44 

50 

6 

55 

45 

58 

47 

68 

11 

31 

16 

13 

40 

47 

14 

58 

28 

64 

36 

59 

41 

Region I: 

Region II: 

Region III: 

Region IV: 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, 

Vermont, Pennsylvama 

Alabama, Florxda, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, 

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Delaware, V~rgmla, West Virginia, Washington, D.C. 

Illinms, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North 

and South Dakota 

Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, Cahfornia, Idaho, New Mexico, 

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawan 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 24 
Table 4 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Cocaine/Crack 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs In 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Dther/Comments 

Bridgeport, CT 

stable 

wide range of users; 

HC1 used in clubs 

smoking 

heroin 

Young, gang sellers 

who are not users 

themselves sell both 

heroin and cocaine 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

crack stable at high 

level 

African Americans; 

middle class Whites 

snort HC1 

smoking 

heroin; inhalants 

among youths 

Mexican Mafia m San 

Antonio; Mexican 

Syndicate in E1 Paso; 

street sales are users 

and some gang kids; 

double breasting 

Seattle, WA 

stable at high level 

African Americans 

for crack; Whites for 

cocaine 

Hispanic sellers at 

upper levels; gangs 

distribute crack 

1/8 1/10gr.-$20 

ER menUons and 

deaths increased 

significantly from 

1994-1996, but now 

have begun to 

stabilize 

New York State" 

up 

: early 20s to 40s; men 

and women; primarily 

Afrxcan American 

smoking; 

injection of dissolved 

crack 

alcohol 

marijuana 

NYC sources with 

local users 

distributing 

More crack users are 

describing dissolving 

rock in wnegar and 

rejecting or crushing 

rock and snorting it 

• ~The New York data describes drug use in suburban Orange County, rather than the city, and is based on 

a study being conducted by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 25 
Table 4, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Cocaine/Crack 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Denver, CO 

stable at high level 

older users, crosses 

all ethnic groups 

smoking 

methamphetamine 

African-American 

and Hispamc sellers; 

gang sales, beeper 

sales 

$5-$10/piece or rock 

Crack users are 

getting older. It is not 

considered by youth 

to be "cool" to use it. 

Methamphetamlne ~s 

use rising--smoking 

and injecting, particularly among Whites 

and youths 

Miami, FL 

stable 

variety of urban 

users; 

club goers snort HC1 

smoking 

snorting 

rejecting 

club drugs with HC1 

Atlanta, GA 

stable at high level 

young users still 

apparent 

smoking; injection 

of crack (dissolved) 

Some crack users are 

shifting to heroin or 

doing both; crack 

becoming 

unfashionable 

lots of gang activity, 

but not related to 

drugs; Afllcan 

Americans domestic 

crack market; Whites 

control 

methamphetamme 

market 

$3-5/rock; 

a httle powder 

evldent 

There is conrpetttlon 

between crack and 

lnethalnphetanalne 

dealers for the same 

market. Meth is 

marketed as a 

cheaper, longer 

lasting high by its 

dealers 

OFFICE OF INATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 26 
Table 4, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidelniologists Report oil Cocaine/Crack 

City 

Austin, TX San Francisco, CA 

Use up stable 

Who's Using/ older users 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

older, African 

Americans for crack; 

younger, White or 

Hlspamc for snorters 

of HC1 

3/4 smoking 

1/8 snorting 

1/8 injecting 

codeine 

marijuana 

African-American and 

Hispanic gang 

members deal crack; 

older Colombian and 

Mexican dealers sell 

powder. 

Prices dropped; 

$10-20K/kilo; 

$20-100/gram; 

$1-40/rock 

Young Hispanic 

females are 

increasingly using 

crack or free basing 

HC1 

Other/Comments 

smoking 

marijuana 

heroin and cocaine 

markets converging 

high 

Crack users are an 

"aging" crowd. There 

are few new users 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 2'7 
Table 5 

Law Enforcement Report on Cocaine/Crack 

City 

Baltimore, MD Chicago, IL New York, NY Bridgeport, CT 

P.D. P.D. P.D. P.D. 

Use up down slightly stable at high level down 

Who's Using/ crack users in mid-30s diverse user group diverse user group, all diverse group of users 

Change in Users HC1 users are 18-25 ages, all ethnlclties 

Method smoking smoking smoking 

snorting 

Drugs in heroin 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

wide variety of units 

sold on street-from 1 or 

2 "baggies'"'to multiounce quantities 

$10/rock 

Crack is the most 

prevalent drug in arrest 

cases. Starting to see an 

increase in powder 

availability again 

African-American and 

Hispanic gangs at street 

level 

$10/rock 

75-85% at Kilo level 

Currently, cocaine is not 

available. Some crack 

samples tested have 

proved negative for 

cocaine 

sellers in every 

neighborhood; m high 

school areas, colleges 

$10/vial 

80-90% pure 

Cocaine tends to "hit 

the younger crowd," but 

It's "not prejudiced." 

moved to younger 

dealers selling both 

l~erom and cocaine 

high 

The number of 

incidents have dechned 

from 709 in 1995 to 

139 in first half of 1997 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 28 
Table 5, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Cocaine/Crack 

City 

Miami, FL San Antonio, TX i Trenton, NJ Washington, DC 

P.D. P.D. P.D. P.D. 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

stable 

diverse user group 

smoking 

marij uana 

African Americans at 

street level; Colombians 

or Cubans at kilo 

level 

$5-$10/rock 

40-50% pure 

Marijuana and 

crack are used in 

sequence so the 

marijuana can 

take the edge off 

the cocaine effect 

(probably because there 

is more marijuana 

available) 

up 

diverse user group; 

all ages, all ethniclties; more middleclass users now 

evident 

smoking 

rejection 

at mid-level, upper 

middle-class 

Hispanic 

$800/oz. 

$18,000/kilo 

60-80% pure 

up 

crack users are 15-35 

years old, AfncanAmerlcan; HC1 users 

are 18-30, White 

and H~spanlc 

smoking 

snorting 

rejection 

Afi'lcan-Amerlcan 

males also often 

selhng marijuana 

$25-$30/gram 

crack 

$70-$100/gram 

HCI 

Crack is our #1 

problem 

stable 

dwerse user group 

20-50 

smoking 

snorting 

sellers 25-40; sell 

both heroin and 

cocaine 

$10/bag 

$800-$1400/oz. 

$20-$25K/kflo 

60-80% pure 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 29 
Table 5, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Cocaine/Crack 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Method 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

City 

Columbia, MD 

P.D. 

stable 

diverse user 

group 

smoking 

snorting 

injection 

marijuana 

wide range of 

sellers 

$25-1/4 gram 

$1,O00/oz. 

Problem with 

"desxgner powder" 

(synthetics) being 

confused for 

heroin and cocaine 

Cleveland, OH 

P.D. 

up 

Slnokmg 

herom 

$100/gram 

$1 O/rock 

Many crack umts smzed 

test negative for cocaine 

content because there is 

httle cocaine powder 

avadable 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 30 
Table 6 

Treatment Providers Report on Cocaine/Crack Users in Treatment 

Region 

Clients w/drug listed as 

primary drug of abuse (%) 

Change since last report (%) 

increase 

no change 

decrease 

Clients injecting (%) 

Clients snorting/smoking (%) 

Other drugs abused 

(% clients who mention) 

heroin 

marijuana 

alcohol 

tranquilizers 

amphetamines 

other 

Average by age (%) 

under 20 

21-30 

31+ 

Average by race/ethnicity (%) 

African-American 

White 

Hlspanic & Other 

Average by sex (%) 

Male 

Female 

Prior treatment (%) 

Yes 

No 

I: Northeast 

N=15 

37 

23 

54 

23 

II: Mid-Atlantic 

and South 

N=14 

21 

21 

72 

7 

7 22 

93 78 

7 

67 

80 

7 

7 

7 

16 

24 

60 

32 

59 

9 

63 

37 

59 

41 

0 

64 

79 

14 

7 

7 

13 

37 

50 

31 

62 

7 

69 

31 

55 

45 

III: Mid-West 

N =20 

28 

26 

74 

0 

IV: West/ 

Southwest 

N=19 

25 

11 

63 

26 

19 15 

81 85 

5 

65 

90 

5 

l0 

15 

29 

39 

32 

36 

60 

4 

69 

31 

51 

49 

5 

63 

79 

5 

26 

16 

18 

37 

45 

17 

52 

31 

61 

39 

56 

44 

Region I" Connecticut, Marne, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode island, New Hampshire, 

Vermont, Pennsylvama 

Region II: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, North and South Carohna, Tennessee, 

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Delaware, Virgima, West Virginia, Washington, D.C. 

Region III: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohm, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North 

and South Dakota 

Region IV: Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, Cahfomia, Idaho, New Mexico, 

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 3] 
Table 7 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Bridgeport, CT 

stable 

diverse user group; 

most widely used drug 

Jamaicans; high 

school kids 

$10/bag (1-2 

cigarettes) 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

stable 

wide variety of users 

teens lacing a 

marijuana cigarette 

with heroin 

young sellers; local 

and Mexican sources 

up 

Seattle, WA 

diverse group 

alcohol 

Mexican sellers; 

lots of locally grown 

up 

New York State" 

adolescents and young 

adults, all ethnlcmes 

LSD 

Ketamlne 

MDMA 

$10/bag 

$500-$800/lb. 

$4,000/lb for 

slnsenalha, 

$35/1b. for Mexican 

Maruuana and alcoho: 

are the two major 

drugs of concern in 

suburban counties 

,1 The New York data describes drug use in suburban Orange County, rather than the city, and is based on a study 

being conducted by the New York State Office of Alcohohsm and Substance Abuse Servmes. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 32 
Table 7, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Dther/Comments 

City 

Denver, CO 

stable 

wide range of users 

widely available 

high 

The quahty has 

improved because of 

the widespread use of 

hydroponic growing 

techniques 

Miami, FL 

stable 

young users 

club drugs 

alcohol 

Atlanta, GA 

stable at high level 

Dwerse users, all 

ethmcmes and ages 

marijuana used by 

crack users to "come 

down" 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 33 
Table 7, cont'd. 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Marijuana 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Austin, TX 

stable at high level 

young users, all 

ethmclties 

PCP, tranquilizers 

mixed in a blunt; 

"prlmos" (marijuana 

with crack) 

Young Hispanic gangs 

distribute Mexican 

marijuana; Anglos sell 

Colombian maruuana 

$450-800/lb. for 

domestic; 

$700-$3000/lb. for 

Colombian 

Increasing problem 

with trafficking of 

fenfluramine and 

phenteramme 

("fen/phen") 

San Francisco, CA 

stable 

wtde variety of users, 

many who use only 

maruuana 

blunts now popular 

prices up 

Marijuana is expensive 

and hard for users to 

find 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 34 
Table 8 

Law Enforcement Report on Marijuana 

City 

Baltimore, MD Chicago, IL New York, NY Bridgeport, CT 

P.D. P.D. P.D. P.D. 

Use up slightly up shghtly stable stable 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

diverse user group; 

"10-75 yrs. old;" 

increasing number of 

teens 

PCP 

cocaine 

The market is made up 

of exu'emes-big dealers 

and home growers, little 

in between. 

$1 O/bag 

It 1s not being seen as a 

drug. It is a "given" 

that it is used in addition 

to everything 

Hispanic and White 

users; increased number 

o f juveniles. 

predominantly Hispanic 

sellers 

$30-$40/bag (9 grams); 

high purity 

&verse user group 

wide range of sellers m 

most areas of city 

$2,000-$6,000/1b; nlost 

expensive ts chemically 

treated, selling for $25/2 

joints. 

&verse users group, but 

prlmardy young users 

Jamaican gangs 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 35 
Table 8, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Marijuana 

City 

Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

stable 

diverse user 

group-"grade 

school to adults" 

cocaine 

' Jamaican sources; 

wide range of 

street sellers 

$5-$1 O/bag 

San Antonio TX 

P.D. 

up 

diverse group; 

teens-30s 

Hispanic dealers 

$400-$500/oz. 

Harvest season has 

made it very cheap 

and abundant, often not 

cut, and a "moist green" 

color 

Trenton, NJ 

P.D. 

up 

14-40 yrs. old, 

male, female, all 

ethmcltles 

All ethnlclties, 

especially 

Jalnalcans. Recent 

rise in crack 

dealers also selhng 

nlarlj uana 

$100-$150/oz. 

Washington, DC 

P.D. 

up 

10-20 year-olds, 

male and female 

PCP, marijuana, 

and cocaine 

teens, selling only 

nlarljuana 

$90-$100/oz. 

$10/bag 

205 pure 

It has increased, 

and drastically. 

U S Attorney has 

asked for increase 

in penalnes 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 36 
Use 

Who's Using/ 

Change in Users 

Drugs in 

Combination 

Who's Selling 

Purchase 

Amount/Purity 

Other/Comments 

Table 8, cont'd. 

Law Enforcement Report on Marijuana 

City 

Columbia, MD Cleveland, OH 

P.D. P.D. 

up up 

mix of users, but 

primarily youth 

PCP with 

marijuana In a 

blunt 

diverse group of 

sellers 

$5/joint 

$95/1/2 oz. 

$150/oz. 

$6/gram 

Price has dropped; a lot 

of maruuana evtdent 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 3'7 
Table 9 

Treatment Providers Report on Marijuana Users in Treatment 

Region 

Clients w/drug listed as primary 

drug of abuse (%) 

Change since last report (%) 

increase 

no change 

decrease 

Other drugs abused 

(% chents who mention) 

heroin 

cocaine 

alcohol 

tranqulhzers 

hallucinogens 

amphetamines 

other 

Average by age (%) 

under 20 

21-30 

31+ 

Average by race/ethnicity (%) 

I: Northeast 

N=15 

23 

25 

67 

8 

7 

20 

80 

20 

0 

7 

13 

34 

30 

36 

II: Mid-Atlantic 

and South 

N=14 

28 

79 

21 

0 

21 

35 

100 

29 

0 

21 

21 

III: Mid-West 

N =20 

28 

26 

74 

0 

0 

25 

90 

0 

0 

5 

15 

Afrman-Amerlcan 

White 

Hispanic & Other 

Average by sex (%) 

Male 

Female 

Prior treatment (%) 

Yes 

No 

28 

63 

9 

72 

28 

41 

59 

28 

29 

43 

26 

60 

14 

74 

26 

32 

39 

29 

32 

66 

2 

65 

35 

47 

53 

47 

53 

IV: West/ 

Sou(hwest 

N=19 

23 

17 

66 

17 

16 

32 

89 

5 

0 

21 

16 

35 

33 

32 

15 

55 

30 

62 

38 

43 

51 

Region I: 

Region II: 

Region III: 

Region IV: 

Connectmut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, 

Vermont, Pennsylvania 

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, North and South Carohna, Tennessee, 

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C. 

Illinms, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohm, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North 

and South Dakota 

Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, Cahforma, Idaho. New Mexico, 

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawan 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 38 
Table 10 

Ethnographers and Epidemiologists Report on Emerging Drugs 

City 

Bridgeport, CT 

Atlanta, GA 

San Francisco, CA 

New York State 

Denver, CO 

San Antonio/El Paso, TX 

Miami, FL 

Seattle, WA 

Austin, TX 

Emerging Drugs 

mescaline 

methamphetamlne 

LSD; Ketamine; MDMA 

methamphetamme 

Rohypnol; inhalants, Including paint 

Rohypnol; club drugs 

methamphetamine 

MDMA 

ephedrine & pseudoephedrme; Clonapm; Lexotan; GHB; 

methamphetamine; Rohypnol; Rltahn 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 39 
Table 11 

Law Enforcement Report on Emerging Drugs 

City Emerging Drugs 

Baltimore, MD LSD; prescription drugs; Tylenol sncks (prescnpnon Tylenol 

and hquid opium combined m a stick that looks hke a Shin 

Jim); psllocybm; Ketamine 

Chicago, IL 

New York, NY MDMA; Ketamine; other club drugs 

Bridgeport, CT methadone 

Miami, FL 

San Antonio, TX Rohypnol 

Trenton, NJ 

Washington, DC methamphetamlne; LSD; inhalants 

Columbia, MD opmm gum; inhalants (Freon); methanaphetamlne; LSD; 

MDMA; Ketamlne 

Cleveland, OH LSD; tranqulhzers 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 4.0 
Appendix 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 4] 
Pulse Check Methodology 

Appendix 

Since its first publication in 1992, Pulse Check has provided the most current intelligence about 

drug markets and patterns of drug abuse nationwide. The Pulse Check draws on discussions with 

ethnographers and epidemiologists working in the drug field; law enforcement agents in Federal, 

and State agencies; and substance abuse treatment providers from small and large programs 

nationwide. All sources describe drug-related activity in their area over the previous six month 

period. 

Ethnographers, Epidemiologists, and Other Ethnographic Sources 

Ethnography is a mode of research that analyzes the behavior of groups in the natural 

settings where this behavior occurs. Ethnographers use field observations and in-depth 

interviews to gather data. Ethnography is not undercover work. Rather, the ethnographer, who 

is fully revealed as a social science researcher, enters the drug users' world to record and 

describe it "on its own terms," that is, without predetermined ideas. 

Epidemiologists also report for Pulse Check. Epidemiologists study the origins, spread 

and control of diseases in a general public health paradigm. In the field of substance abuse, they 

track changes in patterns of drug use, including the incidence and prevalence of the use of 

specific drugs, characteristics of users, and emerging trends. Many epidemiologists who report 

for the Pulse Check are also members of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 

Community Epidemiology Working Group (CEWG). 

The ethnographic and epidemiologic sources contacted by Pulse Check include some of 

the best known drug researchers in the country. In some cases, they are trained ethnographers; in 

other cases, they are epidemiologists with access to ethnographic information. A few are 

researchers working in a field site collecting ethnographic data. Reporters are generally the same 

for each round of calls, though availability influences the selection as well. 

Nine ethnographers, epidemiologists, and other ethnographic sources reported for this 

issue of Pulse Check. All reported from urban areas, with the exception of John Galea in New 

York, who described drug use in suburban Orange County, rather than New York City. He has 

reported on New York City in prior issues of Pulse Check. A complete list of sources follows: 

Atlanta, GA: Claire Sterk-Elifson, Ph.D. Women's and Children's Center, School of Public 

Health, Emory University. 

Austin, TX: Jane Maxwell, M.A. Director, Needs Assessment Department, Texas Commission 

on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. 

Bridgeport, CT: Garry Geter. Addictions Counselor, Connecticut Department of Health. 

Denver, CO: Stephen Koester, Ph.D. Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 42 
Miami, FL: Bryan Page, Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology and Psychiatry and Deputy Director, 

Center for the Biopsychosocial Study of AIDS, University of Miami. 

New York, NY: John Galea, M.A. Chief of Ethnography, New York State Office of 

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Former Commanding Officer of the New York City 

Police Department Youth Gang Intelligence Unit. 

San Antonio/El Paso, TX: Reyes Ramos, Ph.D. Institute of Texas Cultures, University of 

Texas. 

San Francisco, CA: Sheigla Murphy, Ph.D. Center for Substance Abuse Studies, Institute for 

Scientific Analysis. 

Seattle, WA: Michael Gorman, Ph.D. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of 

Washington. 

Police Sources 

Police sources are drawn from Abt Associates' database of law enforcement contacts and 

from contacts developed through the recommendations of law enforcement agencies. These 

sources typically are officers working on special squads or narcotics task forces, or in some 

cases, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

This issue of Pulse Check reached police sources in 10 cities. Reporters are generally the 

same for each round of calls. When police contacts must change as officers take on new 

positions, replacements are typically made on the recommendation of the officer who had been 

the Pulse Check reporter. 

Treatment Providers 

Sixty-eight treatment providers reported for this Pulse Check. The sample of treatment 

providers is derived from the National Facility Register, a directory of treatment programs 

compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services. The listings are divided into four regions that have a similar number of 

treatment programs and are treated equally for sampling. The states in each region are listed 

below. 

Region • (Northeast): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, 

Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania 

Region H (Mid-Atlantic and South): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, 

Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, 

Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 43 
Region III (Midwest): Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, 

Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota 

Region IV (West/Southwest): Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, 

California, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska 

This Pulse Check incorporates the comments of 68 treatment providers. From each of the 

four regions listed above, 20-30 large (over 100 clients) programs and 20-30 small (under 100 

clients) programs were identified, 15 of each type were contacted, and the remaining programs 

served as replacements. The samples were stratified to include equal numbers of large and small 

programs. We do not list specific programs here in order to maintain their privacy. 

Topics of Discussion 

Below is a sample of topics that are raised with Pulse Chec£ reporters. 

ETHNOGRAPHERS, EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, AND LA I4/ENFORCEMENT SOURCES 

• Level of illicit drug use in the community. Changes in the use of drugs over the last six 

months. 

• Age, ethnicity, and sex of users in your area. 

• Frequency of use, prevailing routes of administration. Changes over the last six months. 

• Who is selling. Changes in this group over the last six months. Other drugs sold by this 

group. 

• Current prices. Changes in prices over the last six months. Typical units of purchase. 

TREATMENT PR 0 VIDERS 

• Proportion of population reporting heroin/cocaine/marijuana/alcohol as the primary drug 

of abuse. 

• Proportion of population that is injecting versus snorting/smoking the drug. Changes in 

this proportion over the last six months. 

• Other drugs used. 

• Characteristics (e.g., age, ethnicity, and sex) of clients. 

• Proportion of population that has had prior treatment. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 44 
Prepared for: 

Executive Office of the President 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

750 17th Street, NW, Eighth Floor 

Washington, DC 20503 

Prepared by." 

Dana Hunt, Ph.D.