Office of National 

Drug Control Policy 

PULSE CHECK 

National Trends in Drug Abuse 

Executive Office of the President 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Lee P. Brown, Director 

Spring 1995 

If you have issues viewing or accessing this file, please contact us at NCJRS.gov.
", qq 

' ,.i, 
Office of National 

Drug Control Policy 

PULSE CHECK 

National Trends in Drug Abuse 

Executive Office of the President 

Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Lee P. Brown, Director 

Spring 1995 

Table of Contents 

Introduction 

................................................................................................................................ 

Description of The Sources 

.................................................................................................... 

Ethnographic Sources ............................................................................................... 3 

Police Sources.. 

......... .............................................................................................. 3 

Treatment Providers 

................................................................................................. 

Summary of Findings For Spring 1995 ........................ 

............................................................. 

Main Findings 

Trends in Drug Use 

Heroin 

Ethnographic Sources 

............................................................................................... 

Police Sources 

......................................................................................................... 

Treatment Providers .................. 

............................................................................... 

Cocaine 

Ethnographic Sources ............................................................................................... 9 

Police Sources ................................ i ........................................................................ 10 

Treatment Providers. ................................................................................................ 11 

Marijuana 

Ethnographic Sources ............................................................................................... 11 

Police Contacts ......................................................................................................... 12 

Treatment Providers ................................................................................................. 12 

Other Drugs/Emerging Drugs .................................................................................................. 13 

Tables 

.......................................................................................................................................... 5 

Introduction 

This issue of Pulse Check summarizes information gathered during the months of January and 

February of 1995 by Abt Associates under the direction of Dr. Dana Hunt for the Office of National 

Drug Control Policy. Since April 1992, information 

has been accumulated for Pulse Check, through the 

use of quarterly phone conversations with drug-use 

experts throughout the country. Sources are ethnographers and epidemiologists working in the drug 

field, drug treatment providers, and law enforcement 

officials. 

Pulse Check provides a current subjective look 

at drug use and availability across the country. It is 

not intended as a substitute for more thorough, 

time-consuming profiles developed from surveys 

employing probability samples. Every attempt is 

made to collect the data summarized for each report 

from the same set of ethnographic, epidemiologic, 

and police sources. The treatment providers are 

selected from a random sample of all treatment 

providers, so those providing input will change 

slightly each quarter. This is done both to avoid 

overburdening busy treatment providers and to vary 

reporting. Conversations follow general guidelines 

or topics, though respondents sometimes decline to 

report on some topics and sometimes cover topics 

not included on the outline. 

The following briefly describes the sources used 

and summarizes the results of Pulse Check calls 

made in January and February 1995: 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY | 
2 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Description of the Sources 

Ethnographic sources 

Ethnographers, epidemiologists, and other 

ethnographic sources from twenty urban areas were 

interviewed for this issue of Pulse Check. In the drug 

research field, ethnography is a qualitative research 

technique which, unlike highly structured observation methods, observes and records activity "on its 

own terms", that is, without predetermined ideas 

about the activity. It is important to understand that 

ethnography is not undercover work. The ethnographer, a social scientist fully revealed as someone 

doing research, enters the drug user's world, records 

and describes it. 

The fourteen ethnographic sources contacted by 

Pulse Check this quarter include some 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 social researchers working in 

a field site collecting ethnographic data. 

Police Sources 

Police sources are derived from the Abt staffs 

existing contacts within law enforcement and from 

contacts developed through the recommendations of 

law enforcement agencies. These sources are typically officers working on special squads, narcotics 

task forces, and DEA agents. This round of calls 

reached police sources in nine cities. 

Treatment Providers 

The sample of treatment providers is derived 

from the files of the National Drug Abuse Treatment 

Unit Survey (NDATUS). NDATUS is divided into four 

regions. The states comprising each region are listed 

on the Treatment Provider Summary Tables for each 

drug (Tables 3, 6, and 9). Each region has a similar 

number of treatment programs, so the four regions 

are treated equally for sampling. The original sample 

based on the 1991 NDATUS has been refreshed 

using the 1992 files. From each region, 15 programs 

are identified, 10 are contacted, with the remainder 

serving as replacements. Samples are stratified to 

include equal numbers of small (under 100 clients) 

and large programs. This round of calls reached 39 

trefitment providersl 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 3 
4 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Summary of Findings 

Heroin 

The prevalence of high purity heroin continues 

to be the major sto W in many areas of the 

country. 

Older users still dominate markets in all areas, 

though, as reported last quarter, in some areas 

there are reports of increasing numbers of 

young users (under 30 years of age), as well as 

of users not traditionally seen in inner city 

areas (suburban, middle class users). 

Though injection is still the predominate mode 

of ingestion in all areas, heroin inhalation continues to be a growing practice in some areas. 

Ethnographers in Atlanta and other areas 

where heroin is becoming increasingly popular 

report that crack and cocaine dealers are 

changing their product lines completely; that 

is, getting out of cocaine and into heroin. 

In all regions except Region II (the south and 

southern border areas), over 40 percent of 

treatment providers report that the number of 

clients enrolled with heroin as the primary 

drug of abuse is increasing. In Region II, only 

20 percent of providers report such an 

increase. 

Cocaine 

* The availability of crack and cocaine in powdered form (cocaine HC1) is reported as uniformly high across the country, though half of 

the ethnographers reported that its use is stabilizing. In Los Angeles there are reports that use 

there may be down slightly. 

Intravenous administration of cocaine is primarily Confined to users who combine the 

drag with heroin, a population demographically different from either crack users or inhalers. 

Injectors tend to be older, experienced drag 

users from the inner cities. 

For both crack and cocaine HC1, seller and 

user profiles, with a few notable exceptions, 

usually match. 

New York sources report a\"scrape-and-snort"~ 

phenomenon, in which l~ge-pieces"-6f-cr-~ack 

are p_urchased-and-sha-re-d-by scraping offl 

~3.mall_powdF-ry amounts for snorting. ~ 

Cocaine still presents a major treatment problem in all regions. A majority of programs in 

each region reported that the percentage of 

their clients who report cocaine as their primary drag of abuse is unchanged from last quarter, though there is a slight increase in cocaine 

clients in the Northeast. 

Marijuana 

9 Marijuana availability is reported to be high 

everywhere except in Miami. 

The typical users in all locations were young 

(under 25 years old), and represented all ethnicities. Reporters in Texas, Florida, and New 

Jersey also noticed an increasing number of 

middle class youths. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 5 
Most areas reported that marijuana dealing is 

distinct from the dealing of other drugs. 

Atlanta, where crack dealers also sell marijuana, is an exception. In most areas, the demographic characteristics of the sellers match 

those of the users. 

9 Marijuana potency (THC level) is reported as 

generally good, but variable. 

All police sources except those in New York, 

Seattle, and Boston reported that use and 

availability of marijuana are either rising or 

remain high. In most areas, users are described 

as young (high school or college aged). 

9 Other Emerging Drugs 

9 Several sources report an increased prevalence 

of a variety of prescription drugs on the illicit 

market. Washington, D.C. police report the 

appearance of the combination o'f~D-~--den and~ 

'~gylenol-4 ("Dors and 4s")--~sa _J well ~-----~_n as Elavil, 

Clonidine, and Diluadid. 

Three sources (Texas, Florida, and Delaware) 

mention the appearance of the substance 

Rohypnol in their areas. Rohypnol, a benzodiazepines like Valium, is a controlled substance 

in this country, but its use is not restricted in 

most of the rest of the world. Rohypnol is a 

powerful tranquilizer which is attracting 

young, new users in the U.S. market. It is currently being smuggled in from Mexico and 

South American countries. Its street price is 

low ($1-3 per table0 and users often take multiple doses to produce a euphoric effect. 

The continued mention of methamphetamine 

use is of special concern this quarter. For 

many years, methamphetamine use has been 

confined to certain areas of the country (the 

West and Southwest) and to certain distinct 

groups of users (motorcycle gangs, older polydrug users). It is apparently becoming more 

attractive to younger users and its use is 

expanding into areas of the country not previously involved with methamphetamine. 

6 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Trends in Drug Use 

HEROIN 

Ethnographers (Table 1) 

The prevalence of high purity heroin continues 

to be the major story in many areas of the country. 

The Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, 

Delaware) and parts of the South (Georgia) report 

either that heroin use has stabilized at a high level, 

or that use is increasing. The West and Southwest 

(Oakland, 5an Francisco, Los Angeles, E1 Paso) 

report no significant change, though ethnographers 

in these areas report higher-purity heroin being sold 

at lower prices. Only the Florida source reports 

overall low levels of use, while noting that use is rising in the Miami area. 

Older users still dominate markets in all areas, 

though, as reported last quarter, in some areas there 

are reports of increasing numbers of young users 

(under 30 years of age), as well as of users not traditionally seen in inner city areas (suburban, middle 

class users). One New York reporter and the Atlanta 

reporter described a significant number of former 

users, who had been in jail or in treatment, retdrning to heroin use because of the increased availabilityl lower price, and higher purity. In New York, due 

to fear of HIV infection, many returning users are 

inhaling rather than injecting the drug. 

Reports from New York, Colorado, New Jersey, 

Connecticut, California, and Georgia indicate heroin 

is being purchased by younger users than during 

last quarter. In New York there is a reported 

increase both in the number of suburban users coming into the fity to b~y_ h_eroin and_in_the sale of 

synthetic S '--'~ opiates such as Diluadid,_referre~ 

~,,, ,,c-77_ _ ..... _ \-hospital heroin'~ on the street. This characterization 

coincides with a report from Delaware concerning 

heroin use in Dover, Delaware and in nearby 

Philadelphia. The ethnographer from that area 

describes three distinct categories of heroin users: 1) 

traditional, older inner city users, 2) middle class, 

employed users, and 3) professionals who binge on 

the weekends. The latter two categories represent 

new users, attracted by the availability of high purity, inexpensive, inhalable heroin. An influx of white 

and African American youth who have little prior 

experience with hard drags is reported in Atlanta. 

Though injection is still the predominate mode 

of ingestion in all areas, heroin inhalation continues 

to be a growing practice. In New Jersey, statewide 

admissions to treatment show that 60 percent of 

new clients report inhaling heroin; this number is 

even higher (80%) in Newark where high purity 

heroin is readily available. The New Jersey reporter 

also noted that since many of the inhalers will eventually turn to injection (for efficiency and/or when 

the purity of the drag declines), this trend has serious implications for future HIV infection rates. One 

New York ethnographer noted that small glassine 

envelopes in which heroin is packaged litter many 

areas where high levels of heroin trafficking occur, 

indicating that users buy the product, inhale it 

immediately, and dispose of the container on site. 

This contrasts with injectors, who move to more hidden locations to "cook up" or prepare their purchases for injection. 

The West Coast (Los Angeles, Denver, and San 

Francisco) reports few users are inhaling heroin. 

This may be due in part to the dominance of black 

tar heroin in these markets. Black tar heroin is inappropriate for inhalation and is, as the Denver report 

notes, "unsmokable." Black tar heroin is most often ' 

found in a resinous or gummy form, rather than in 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 7 
the powdered form of either white (most often 

Columbian or Southeast Asian, in origin) or brown 

(most often Mexican) heroin9 Black tar heroin can 

be heated and injected, but is difficult, if not impossible, to inhale. Its transformation in Texas into a 

solution used much like nose drops, mentioned in 

the last round of Pulse Check, speaks to the ingenuity of users in areas where black tar heroin predominates. 

A variety of groups are selling heroin across the 

country. Some ethnographers report young nonusers selling and others report the preponderance of 

sales are by older street addicts. In most areas, heroin sellers are still distinct from cocaine or marijuana 

sellers. Exceptions are Connecticut and Colorado 

where ~t'one-on-one" packages (heroin and cocaine)~ 

___-/-7_ 

are offered for speedballing. In these instances, buyers are primarily heroin users supplementing existing use patterns with cocaine, rather than people 

who predominantly use cocaine. 

Street sales of heroin are reported as brisk, with 

areas like Connecticut reporting as many as seven or 

eight sellers on a single street comer. It is reported 

this quarter that, in Atlanta and other areas where 

heroin is becoming increasingly popular, crack and 

cocaine dealers are changing their product lines 

completely -- getting out of cocaine and into heroin. Sources in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and 

Connecticut mention that some crack users are 

switching to snorting heroin because it is cheaper, 

more plentiful and less stigmatized than crack9 

Countries mentioned as the primary sources for 

heroin include Mexico, Columbia, Southeast Asia, 

9 and areas within the former Soviet Union9 In the 

Southwest border areas, the heroin trade is reported 

to be controlled by two different groups: the 

Mexican Mafia, which controls distribution in cities 

away from the border itself; and El Sindicato, which 

controls trade at the border. The E1 Paso ethnographer reports that heroin potency at the border is 

considerably higher and addicts who travel from incountry areas to the border may misjudge the purity 

of their purchase and overdose. He also reports that 

in cities such as San Antonio, young sellers are 

recruited while in prison or jail, often with the offer 

of payment of bail. The Mexican Mafia and El 

Sindicato appear to have exclusive control of their 

markets9 The E1 Paso reporter states: "Sellers in San 

Antonio know, if you don't sell for the Mexican 

Mafia, you don't sell9 

The $10 or $20 bag or balloon of heroin 

remains the primary unit of distribution on the 

street. Los Angeles reports slightly higher typical unit 

costs ($20 to $40/balloon), while New York and 

Delaware reported lower unit costs ($3 and $5 

bags)9 Purity of street heroin is high (40% to 80%) in 

most areas9 One San Francisco reporter said that 

users told him that current purity is reminiscent of 

heroin found on the streets during the heroin epidemic of the late 1960s. 

Police Sources (Table 2) 

All police contacts report that ~ use is 

either stable or increasing in their areas. Most of the 

users they encounter appear to be older and are 

injecting the drug. Three sites (New York, Seattle, 

and Washington, D.C.) mention the appearance of 

younger users. 

Though inhalation is reported by all of the 

Northeast city police, injection predominates in most 

areas9 Some new, younger users in the Seattle area 

are \~not injecting thh_ee dmg-into-a-veinr but-rather-ar~- e

~n -popping"~it. This practice, a common behavior 

among experimenters Who often become intravenous users, involves injecting the drag under the 

8 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
skin or into surface muscle tissue. Police sources 

also report that synthetic opiates, such as Percodan 

and Dilaudid, are available in Maryland. 

Several sources described upper-level dealers of 

white heroin as being either Columbian or Nigerian, 

and of black tar heroin as being Mexican. Street 

level or middle level distributors are most often 

described as users who sell drugs in order to support and maintain their own habits. Maryland police 

substantiate ethnographers' reports of increasing 

numbers of young crack dealers switching to heroin 

sales. 

Kilogram-level prices are reported to vary considerably from location to location: ranging from 

$120,000 per kilogram on the West Coast for black 

tar, to $180,000 per kilogram in Washington, D.C. 

for white powder. The street level price in a given 

area, however, remains consistently at $3, $10, and 

$20 per bag or balloon. Though purity varies 

according to where in the distribution chain the 

police acquire the product, it is generally high 

everywhere except in Los Angeles and Miami. 

Maryland State Police sources report that recent 

large scale interdiction efforts produced large 

seizures of small prepackaged bags (1/3 gram). Some 

of these were found to be 75 to 85 percent pure. 

Treatment Providers (Table 3) 

In all regions except Region II (the south and 

southern border areas), over 40 percent of treatment 

providers report that the number of clients enrolled 

with heroin as the primary drug of abuse is increasing. In Region II, only 20 percent of providers report 

such an increase. The other 80 percent in Region II 

report no significant change. Most users in treatment 

were injecting, except in the Northeast where it is 

reported that there are now equal numbers of heroin inhalers and injectors entering treatment. 

Ethnographer's confirm these reports by treatment 

providers. During the last two years Pulse Check has 

documented the rising populari W of inhalation in 

the Northeast. This is coincident with the increasingly widespread availability of high purity heroin in 

that region. Though injection still remains the most 

common mode of ingestion among clients in Region 

III, providers report the proportion of clients who 

inhale or smoke (38%) doubled from what was 

reported last quarter (16%). 

The profile of heroin users in treatment remains 

essentially the same as last quarter: over half the 

users are over 30 years old, they are 3:1 male, and 

the majority have been in treatment before. Alcohol, 

cocaine, and marijuana remain concurrent problems 

for heroin users in treatment, and amphetamines 

show increased popularity everywhere except 

Region I. 

COCAINE 

Ethnographers (Table 4) 

Availability of crack and cocaine in powdered 

form (cocaine HC1) is uniformly high across the 

country, though half of the ethnographers reported 

that its use is stabilizing. Remarkably, Los Angeles 

reports that use there may be down slightly. 

Reports described three Wpes of users: 1) the 

younger, often minority crack user; 2) the older 

injector who is combining cocaine HCI with heroin 

in a speedball; and 3) the older, more affluent user 

who is snorting cocaine HC1. The first does not 

appear to be drawing large numbers in most areas, 

though snorting is reportedly rising among younger 

white males in California. One New York source 

reports some heavy crack users continue to resort to 

heroin to level off after a long crack binge. 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 9 
Intravenous administration of cocaine is primarily confined to users who combine the drug with 

heroin, a population demographically different from 

either crack users or inhalers. Injectors tend to be 

older, experienced drug users from the inner cities. 

For both crack and cocaine HCl, seller and user 

profiles, with a few notable exceptions, often match. 

Crack distributors are most often young, and frequently Hispanic or African American. In some areas 

(Denver, Oakland, New York) they are generally 

involved with gangs. Denver sources report that 

crack-selling gangs have pushed traditional cocaine 

and heroin injectors out of their areas (because they 

aren't their clientele). Even these seasoned users are 

afraid of the violence associated with the crack 

trade. This displacement has been particularly acute 

in Denver where gentrification has consolidated 

much of the drag trade into a single area of the city. 

On the other hand, sources report considerable 

difference in marketing strategy between distributors 

of cocaine for injection or inhalation. Cocaine 

intended for injectors may be sold by heroin dealers 

("one-on-one" packaging) and, in this case, is sold 

in units similar to those familiar to the heroin trade 

($10 and $20 bags or balloons). Cocaine intended 

for snorters, available through a more diverse group 

of sellers, is sold in larger units (multiples and fractions of grams and ounces). 

Prices for cocaine HC1 vary across the country 

from 1/8 ounce in the Northeast at $100 to one 

ounce for $400 in Los Angeles. Crack prices vary 

from $5, $10, and $20 per rock in California, with 

lower unit prices ($3 and $5) in the East. New York 

sources report a "scrape and snort" phenomenon, in 

which large pieces of crack are purchased and 

shared by scraping off small powdery amounts for 

snorting. 

Cocaine purity in most areas is reported to be 

variable, but generally high. For example, the 

Delaware ethnographer reports that, while some 

high purity cocaine is available, very-poor-quality~ 

a nd1~ighly_ adult_erated cocaine known-as-~street) 

-\ 

s also available. Additiona--lly, several reports 

cite the increasingly common practice of crack users 

purchasing large amounts of cocaine HCI to "cook 

up their own." They do this rather than pay the 

higher price that prepackaged crack often demands. 

One New York ethnographer comments that "basing 

your own" is thought to produce better crack. 

Police Sources (Table 5) 

All police sources report that cocaine availability 

is at stable, albeit high, levels. For a long time, its 

use has been associated with younger, minority 

users. This profile has not changed. Although Los 

Angeles, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. report 

increased injection, the most common cocaine use 

seen by police is still crack smoking. 

Mthough cocaine distribution is typically separate from the distribution of other drugs, Maryland 

police note that users' recent interest in heroin 

induces dealers to offer cocaine and heroin, in combination. Gangs are reportedly involved in the crack 

trade in Seattle and Cleveland. Wholesale level 

sources include Columbian, Cuban, Iranian, Haitian, 

and Jamaican dealers. New York police also mention a recent focus on Russian distribution networks. 

Prices for cocaine vary across the country, ranging from as low as $35-50 per gram in Miami to $80- 

100 per gram in the Maryland/D.C. area. Purity is 

1The size of the piece of crack determines the price in all cases. However, what varies from location to location is 

the availability of small pieces (at smaller unit prices) and larger, more expensive pieces. 

1 0 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
variable, but generally high in all areas except Los 

Angeles. 

Treatment Providers (Table 6) 

Cocaine still presents a major treatment problem 

in all regions. A majority of programs in each region 

reported that the percentage of their clients who 

report cocaine as their primary drug of abuse is 

unchanged from last quarter, though there is a slight 

increase in cocaine clients in the Northeast. 

The overwhelming majority of cocaine clients 

either snort or smoke the drug as crack. Only in the 

West is there a substantial number of injectors (28%) 

in the treatment population. 

Treatment providers uniformly cite alcohol as 

the number one concurrent drug problem for 

cocaine treatment clients. Other substances most 

often used are heroin (particularly in those regions 

where high purity heroin is readily available), marijuana, and amphetamines. 

Clients in treatment for cocaine problems are 

reported to be younger than heroin clients, though 

few are under age 20. They are also more likely to 

be males than females, and in most areas only about 

half have been in treatment before. 

MARIJUANA 

Ethnographers (Table 7) 

Marijuana availability is reported to be high 

everywhere except Miami. The Miami ethnographer 

noted that marijuana's availability is no longer seasonal. With year round availability, its use is 

described as stable. In New Jersey, marijuana is 

readily available as "Phillies blunts." In New York, 

Dutch Masters cigar wrappers are replacing the 

Phillies wrappers, because they are viewed as "easier to roll and better tasting." Regardless of the paper 

choice, blunts are increasingly common throughout 

the East and South. The practice of rolling marijuana 

into a cigar wrappers has not gained much popularity in the West. 

The typical users in all locations were young 

(under 25 years old), and represented all ethnicities. 

Reporters in Texas, Florida, and New Jersey also 

noticed an increasing number of middle class 

youths. Increased use in the Hispanic community is 

reported in Los Angeles and Atlanta. 

Cocaine, alcohol, and MDMA are mentioned as 

other drugs used by some marijuana smokers. In 

Texas, older, low income users combine marijuana 

with inhalants such as paint. The problems associated with paint inhalation are seen as serious, particularly among segments of the Native American communities. These users spray paint into small containers and inhale the fumes to produce a hallucinogenic effect. Inhaling solvents from paint or aerosol 

cans is also reported in New Jersey, where currently 

there are attempts to limit the sale of aerosols to 

persons over eighteen years of age. 

Most areas reported that marijuana dealing is 

distinct from the dealing of other drugs. Atlanta, 

where crack dealers also sell marijuana, is an exception. In most areas, the demographic characteristics 

of the sellers match those of the users. 

Marijuana potency (THC level) is reported as 

generally good, but variable. For example, in 

Denver both very good and very poor marijuana are 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 1 ] 
available in the market.~jua-~aTi~ 

available-'--ff~str.eet j~n l ower.incorn~e_ar.eas-and] 

higher grade marijuana is sold in upper-income 

"yuppie neighborhoods." Prices reflect these varying 

types and quality. Street units were $5 and $10 bags 

in most places. In San Francisco, for example, bags 

containing about one gram of marijuana are sold in 

the high school market for $10-15. Prices for larger 

quantities ranged from $600 a pound at the Texas 

border to $3,500 a pound on the West coast for the 

highly valued sinsemilla. Product identification was 

reported as common among street dealers ("Maui 

Wauie," "Acapulco Gold"). However, New York 

reporters described the use of dealer-level bag markings,a practice not usually associated with marijuana and possibly indicative of both a highly active 

and somewhat better organized market. 

Police Sources (Table 8) 

All police sources except those in New York, 

Seattle, and Boston reported that use and availability 

of marijuana are either rising or remain high. In 

most areas, users are described as young (high 

school or college aged), though there is a wider 

range of user ages reported in Seattle and MiamL 

The most common substances used in conjunction 

with. marijuana are hallucinogens and alcohol. This 

is reported to be the case across the nation. 

Sources of marijuana are reported to be plentiful 

and are located both inside the U.S. borders and in 

nearby Mexico and the Caribbean. Much of the 

domestically grown marijuana is local to each area, 

though sources in Miami and Washington, D.C. 

point to Texas as a common domestic source area. 

Washington, D.C. police report that an increasingly 

popular method of smuggling marijuana into that 

area is via UPS or Federal Express in packages 

weighing up to 100 pounds. Police report marijuana 

is being packaged in $5 and $10 units. Maryland 

State police note that the smaller packaging unit 

makes the product more affordable for young users. 

Treatment Providers (Table 9) 

Treatment providers report that marijuana is the 

primary drug problem for less than a quarter of all 

treatment clients. This is essentially the same proportion they have reported throughout the last year. 

The other drugs most often used by marijuana 

clients are alcohol, cocaine, tranquilizers, and 

amphetamines. As one treatment provider from 

California commented, "Most of the people who 

come into treatment for a marijuana problem are 

actually people with a polydrug problem. They use 

alcohol and assorted other things as much as they 

use marijuana." 

Unlike the users of the other drugs, clients in 

treatment for marijuana use are young, ranging from 

19 percent under 20 years old in Region II programs 

to almost 60 percent under 20 in Region IV programs. With the exception of clients in Region I programs, over two-thirds are new to treatment. 

| 2 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
Other Drugs/Emerging Drugs 

Prescription Drugs 

Several sources report an increased prevalence 

of a variety of prescription drugs on the illicit market. Washington, D.C. police report the appearance 

of the combination of Doriden and Tylenol-4 ("Dors 

and 4s") as well as Elavil, Clonidine, and Diluadid. 

Nearby, Maryland sources report that Clonidine, an 

anti-h~,pertension medication, is being used by 

addicts to "boost" the narcotic effect of heroin. San 

Francisco, Miami, and Los Angeles sources report an 

increase in the popularity of tranquilizers like Xanex 

and Prozac. 

Three sources (Texas, Florida and Delaware) 

also mention the appearance of the substance 

Rohypnol in their areas. Rohypnol, like other benzodiazepines (i.e., Valium), is a controlled substance in 

this country, but its use is not restricted in most of 

the rest of the world. It is becoming a growing drug 

of abuse in Europe. Rohypnol is a powerful tranquilizer which is attracting young, new users in the U.S. 

market. It is currently being smuggled in from 

Mexico and South American countries. One Texas 

source describes most Rohypnol users as teens and 

young adults who purchase the drug legally in 

Mexico and bring it back across the border for use 

and sale. Its street price is low ($1-3 per tablet) and 

users often take multiple doses to produce a 

euphoric effect. 

Hallucinogens 

Hallucinogens like LSD and MDMA continue to 

be popular among young users in New York, Miami, 

and on the West coast. 

Methamphetamine 

The continued mention of methamphetamine 

use is of special concern this quarter. For many 

years, methamphetamine use has been confined to 

certain areas of the country (the West and 

Southwest) and to certain distinct groups of users 

(motorcycle gangs, older polydrug users). It is 

apparently becoming more attractive to younger 

users and its use is expanding into areas of the 

country not previously involved with methamphetamine. Among the ethnographers and police reporting this quarter, five from diverse areas report the 

emergence of (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, 

Dover/Philadelphia and Denver). Methamphetamine, used for its stimulant effects, is often 

part of the drug scene which includes marijuana, 

LSD, and MDMA, as opposed to heroin or crack. In 

San Francisco and New York, methamphetamine is 

increasingly popular among young white male 

nightclub patrons. It may be injected, inhaled, or 

smoked and is often associated with extended partying. It has also been reported in the media and elsewhere as a drug associated with the rave scene. It 

allows youthful rave-goers to stay awake and physically active during their all-night dance activities. 

While methamphetamine does not have as benign a 

reputation as marijuana or hallucinogens among its 

users, it is erroneously seen as "less harmful than the 

hard drugs." 

Ephedrine is a chemical precursor for the manufacture of methamphetamine. Twenty-five milligram 

ephedrine hydrochloride tablets are available in 

many areas. For example, the ethnographic source 

reporting on the Dover/Philadelphia area also mentioned the appearance of ephedrine. While this is 

the first mention of ephedrine in the Mid-Atlantic 

area,-previous Pulse Check reports from Texas and 

Florida mentioned the appearance of ephedrine in 

their drug markets. While ephedrine alone became a 

federally regulated substance in November 1994, 

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY | 3 
ephedrine in combination (or pseudoephedrine) can 

still be purchased legally in some areas. The drug is 

also widely available in Mexico and South America. 

tablets to extract one kilogram of ephedrine. 

Ephedrine is then converted into methamphetamine 

at a rate of 50-70 percent of the ephedrine weight. 

Ephedrine tablets are often the basis for the 

large scale manufacture of methamphetamine 

through a conversion/extraction method. Using large 

quantities of these tablets and dissolving them in 

water or alcohol, manufacturers extract ephedrine. 

According to the DEA sources, it takes almost 50,000 

The methamphetamine market in Southern 

California and the Southwest is dominated by 

Mexican manufacturers and distributors. While 

always present, these dealers have now multiplied 

considerably and, according to DEA sources, they 

have become far more active in recent months. 

14 OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY 
City 

Bridgeport, CT 

(Geter) 

Inddence 

high 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

(gamos) 

stable 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

stable 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

up 

Oakland, CA 

(Feldman) 

New York, NY 

(Goldsmith) 

stable 

increasing 

Atlanta, GA 

(Sterk-Elifon) 

increasing 

Denver, CO 

(Koester) 

unchanged 

Miami, FL 

(Page) 

increasing 

Trenton/ 

Newark, NJ 

(French) 

unchanged; 

still high 

Who's Using 

African Americans; 

Hispanic; some suburban 

white users 

Mexican Americans; 

still primarily older users 

older users, predominantly 

Hispanic, though also white 

users; 70% male 

older users, some new young 

users (early 20s); all 

ethnicities 

primarily older users (30-60 

yrs old) 

older users; all ethnicities; 

sees many former users 

going back to use 

older users returning to use, 

African American, white; 

new young users, African 

American, white 

heavy use in Latino 

community; some users 18- 

22, but most in 30s and 40s 

early 30s, Hispanic, Anglo, 

African American 

variety of users; all 

ethnicities 

A in Users 

getting younger; 

more women; 

more snorters 

none 

none 

more young 

users 

more younger 

users who inhale 

more former 

USers 

more new users 

none 

more Hispanic 

more snorters 

Method 

injection; 

snorting 

injection 

injection 

75% inject; 

20% smoke; 

5% snort 

injection; 

some snorting 

snorting becoming 

dominant; some 

skin popping; 

injecting 

snorting; 

injection 

little smoking; 

primarily injection 

injection 

snorting; 

injecting 

' Other Drugs 

crack 

cocaine in speedball; 

alcohol 

cocaine in speedball 

alcohol; 

marijuana; 

cocaine 

cocaine in speedball; 

alcohol 

cocaine in speedball 

marijuana 

alcohol; 

cocaine in speedball 

cocaine in speedball 

cocaine in speedball 

cocaine; 

alcohol 

~alezg;ng Drugs 

mescaline; 

LSD 

none 

amphetamines 

methamphetamine 

some 

methamphetamines 

Rohypnol 

Who's Sellin~ 

young sellers (15-24), oRen 

many on a single,site 

controlled by Mexican 

Mafia in towns away from 

border and El Sindicato in 

border towns 

variety of sellers; primarily 

Hispanics 

Mexicans, African 

Americans, whites 

older sellers than those who 

sell cocaine; steady street 

presence of heroin sellers 

older male African 

Americans and whites; 

young male crack dealers 

only prevalent in one area; 

some "one-on-one" sales, 

but heroin and cocaine 

p~h.arily sold separately 

traditional street addicts; 

some young male non-users 

15 
City 

New York, NY 

(Galea) 

Austin'-----. TX --'=~ 

(Maxwell) 

Newark, DE 

(Pazzaglini) 

Incidence 

stable, 

'unchanged 

slight 

increase 

up 

Who's Using 

traditional older users; some 

suburban users 

older, primarily male; 

17% African American; 

34% white; 

49% Hispanic 

3 district groups: 

9 lower SES users 

9 middle class users 

9 professionals who are 9 

weekend users 

Table 1 

Ethnographers - Heroin: 1/95 

A in Users 

more suburban 

users apparent 

some anecdotal 

evidence of more 

young white 

users inhaling 

more snorting 

Method 

primarily 

injection; young 

inhalers 

primarily injection 

injecting and 

snorting, but shift 

toward more 

snorting 

Other Drugs 

cocaine 

Xanex; 

valium; 

cocaine 

Emerging Drugs 

Dilaudid 

Rohypnol 

Who's Selling 

Chinese traffickers; 

Columbian dealers felt to 

have best quality; Russian 

distributors of Thai heroin 

wide variety of sellers 

including non-using kids 

acting as runners 

16 

........ = -,* I ..... 9 I 
Table 1 (cont'd.) 

Ethnographers - Heroin: 1/95 

City 

Bridgeport, CF 

(~et~0 

San Antonio/El Paso, TX 

(Ramos) 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

Oakland, CA 

(Feldman) 

Purchase Amount 

Miami, FL 

(Page) 

$10, $20/bag 

$10, $20 units 

$2500/oz. for Black Tar, 

$20-$40/balloon 

$45-$65/gram 

$10/bag or balloon 

Purity 

P-dope purity is 65-70% 

somewhat better 

70-80% 

40-50% 

Other/Comments 

Sales very high. Some areas have 7-8 sellers at one spot in the early evening; nightclub 

sales, but they are different users than the street sales. 

Purity and price vary greatly from border to towns further in. Two different groups 

control these areas: Mexican Mafia (a newer group) and El Sindicato. Heroin is better 

at the border. 

Prices have dropped, but quality is up. People say it is as good as it was in the late 60s. 

New York, NY $10/bag reportedly high The number of plastic envelopes found on sidewalk indicate more snorting than 

(Goldsmith) : injecting, as injectors have to take purchase to hidden place to inject. 

Atlanta, GA $10-$20/bag 60-90% Older users (ex-addicts) are "reappearing" now that high quality heroin is available; also 

(Sterk-Elifon) appearing among persons who previously used crack. 

I 

Denver, CO $20 units --- 

tKoeste0 

I I 

$10-$15/"cap" variable, but generally high 

high 

good 

high 

Trenton/Newark, NJ $15/bag 

(French) 

I 

New York, NY $10 bags; 

(Galea) $3 bags available 

! 

Austin, TX 

(Maxwell) 

Newark, DE 

(Pazzaglini) 

$5, $10/bag up to $50= 

$70/bag 

Some users are trying to smoke heroin with crack but are finding it's inefficient and 

stop. Also seeing lots of physiologically addicted users who have never injected. 

Noticeable decrease in number of shooting galleries; PCP readily available. 

Rohypnol use expanding. 

17 
Table 2 

Police - Heroin: 1/95 

City 

Dover, DE 

P.D. 

Maryland State 

Police 

Inddence 

increase 

Who's Using A in Users 

increase 

none 

Method 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

Seattle, WA 

DEA 

older traditional users 

still high 

no change 

injection 

dominates, but 

some snorting 

Other Drugs 

traditional injectors; some 

ne~t snorter8 

stable 

none 

injection; snorting 

alcohol 

Emerging Drugs 

Los Angeles, CA 

P.D. 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

Central Narcotics 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

Washington, DC 

P.D. 

Cleveland, OH 

P.D. 

increasing 

stable 

increase in 

smuggling 

stable, though 

increase in heroin 

related deaths 

older traditional users 

older, hardcore users; some 

younger users skin popping 

30-60 years old; 

primarily African American 

and Hispanic 

older traditional users 

older traditional users 

older users 

stable traditional users 

younger users 

skin popping 

none 

some younger 

USers seen 

(aged 17-20) 

none 

some former and 

current crack 

users appearing 

none 

primarily injection 

injection; skin 

popping 

injection 

injection; some 

inhaling 

primarily injection 

primarily injection 

cocaine 

cocaine 

cocaine 

cocaine 

cocaine; 

clonidine 

nitrous oxide; 

PCP; 

LSD; 

MDMA 

marijuana in 

blunts 

methamphetamine 

methamphetamine 

PCP 

Who's Selling 

the supply sometimes 

comes through the area on 

Amtrak and is distributed 

through street comer 

dealers 

young dealers, often those 

who sold crack; primarily 

separate dealers/areas for 

each drag 

most local sellers are users 

maintaining habit 

Mexican sellers 

Colombians selling white 

heroin; brown or black tar 

heroin also available 

sellers may also sell 

cocaine in "one-plus-one" 

combination; Nigerians, 

Ghanians, Asians, and 

African Americans 

dominate middle 

distribution market; some 

Colombians also present 

18 
Table 2 (cont'd.) 

Police - Heroin: 1/95 

City 

Dover, DE 

P.D. 

Maryland State Police 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

Seattle, WA 

DEA 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

Central Narcotics 

Los Angeles, CA 

P.D. 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

Washington, DC P.D., 

Purchase Amount 

$65-$300/gram 

$120,000/kilos; street 

bundles of $10-$20 bags 

$10/bag; 

$5/bag 

$3, $5/balloon 

$150,000/kflo; 

$10, $20/bag in street 

$180,000/kilo 

Purity 

up to 90% 

variable: for injection 12- 

13%; for snorting higher 

purity 

high 

good 

poor, 3-5% pure at street 

level 

street level 2-3% pure; 

carders picked up with 85- 

89% pure in condoms 

swallowed for transport 

15-47% 

Other/Comments 

Recent large scale interdiction efforts produced large 

seizures ofr_:_~.~ gram pkgs. which were 75-85% pure and 

stamped "White M~nkey:", 1 

Black tar dominant in Seattle. Some young users (white, 

non-innercity) are experimevtin~ with skin popping. 

Heroin has not made the comeback in L.A. that it has in 

the East. Seems to be used among the same traditional 

groups in city as always. 

Use of synthetics among heroin users such as Dilaudid, 

Percodan, as well as Clonidine. 

19 
Summary Table 3 

Treatment Providers 

Drug Use Patterns 

1/95 

DRUG: HEROIN 

I 

N=6 

II 

N=13 

% clients 

w/drug listed 

as 1 ~ drug 

of abuse 

A over 

last year 

increase 

no change 

decrease 

% clients 

injecting 

X=45% 

% clients 

inhaling/ 

smoking 

R=55% 

III 

N=IO 

IV 

N=IO 

REGION 

5r 

X=20% 

X=6% 

Y(=19% 

increase 

no change 

decrease 

40% 

60% 

0% 

20% 

80% 

0% 

increase 50% 

no change 50% 

decrease 0% 

increase 50% 

no change 38% 

decrease 12% 

X=86% 

X--62% 

X=89% 

X=14% 

X=11% 

Other Drugs 

"Used (% Mentioned) 

cocaine 80% 

marijuana 20% 

alcohol 100% 

tranquilizers 40% 

hallucinogens 20% 

other 20% 

coeaine 55% 

marijuana 64% 

alcohol 100% 

tranquilizers 18% 

amphetamines 18% 

other 9% 

cocaine 50% 

marijuana 50% 

alcohol 50% 

tranquilizers 17% 

amphetamines 17% 

Region I: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania 

Region II: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, 

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

Region III: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota 

Region IV: Colorado, Montana, Utah, W~,omin$, Nevada, Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Ore$on 

cocaine 75% 

marijuana 50% 

alcohol 75% 

tranquilizers 13% 

amphetamines 25% 

other 38% 

20 
Summary Table 3 (eont'd.) 

Treatment Providers 

Characteristics of Users by Drug of Abuse 

1/95 

DRUG: HEROIN 

Percent by Age 

REGION 

I 

N=6 

II 

N=13 

III 

N=10 

IV 

N=IO 

under 

2O 

~--3% 

X=2% 

:~=8% 

Y(=13% 

21-30 

YC=36% 

:~=26% 

X=35% 

X=27% 

31+ 

X=61% 

~=72% 

X=57% 

X=60% 

Percent by Race/Ethnicity Percent by Sex Prior Treatment 

African 

American 

X=46% 

X=21% 

:c=3o% 

White 

:~=38% 

~=73% 

X=63% 

X=79% 

Hispanic 

and Other 

X=16% 

X=6% 

X=7% 

$r 

Male 

X=77% 

Yr 

~=74% 

X=81% 

Female 

~=23% 

X=21% 

:~=26% 

X=19% 

Yes 

X=87% 

Yc=75% 

YC=71% 

X=6% YC=56% 

No 

:c=13% 

YC=25% 

X=29% 

YC=44% 

21 
Table 4 

Ethnographers - Cocaine: 1/95 

City 

Bridgeport, CT 

(Geter) 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

0~amos) 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

Inddence 

stab~ 

availability high 

down slightly 

stable 

Who's Using 

2 categories of users: crack 

(low ,income, minority) and 

powder (more affluent, often 

white) 

Whites are snorters; Mexican 

Americans inject it with 

heroin; African Americans 

use crack 

i 

African American 

predominant for crack; 1/2 

male/female 

White middle class use 

powder, in their 30s; African 

A in Users 

more females 

none 

some anecdotal 

reports of more 

white males 

snorting 

some rise in high 

school users for 

Method 

some IV use;, 

crack and 

snorting more 

prevalent 

snorting; 

injecting; 

smoking 

injection 

75% snort HC1; 

25% crack 

Other Drugs 

P-dope; 

alcohol 

heroin in speedball 

heroin in speedball 

alcohol; 

marijuana 

Emerging 

Drugs 

none 

Who's Selling 

young sellers; dub 

sales of powder 

"everybody," 

though Hispanics 

dominate 

Whites sell HCI; 

Hispanics and 

Americans and Hispanics use 

crack, average 35 yrs old 

Oakland, CA 

0~ddman) 

New York, NY 

(Goldsmith) 

Atlanta, GA 

(Sterk-Elffon) 

Denver, CO 

(Koester) 

crack somewhat 

up 

high 

continues to 

dominate the 

market 

primarily African Americans 

over 30 

wide range, reflective of each 

neighborhood; 20s-40s, all 

ethnicities 

crack: men and women, 

primarily African American 

aged from 18--45; 

HCI: 18 and older, mainly 

white 

powder 

none 

none 

fewer young 

USers 

crack is readily 

available 

all ethnicities, though more 

African Americans use crack 

more African 

Americans 

crack 

crack 

smoking 

dominates; 

injecting; 

some snorting 

crack; injection 

some heroin 

snorting 

alcohol; 

marijuana; 

heroin in speedball 

variety of 

African Americans 

sell crack 

alcohol 

prescription 

drugs 

youngsters & older 

heroin users sell 

crack 

sold in grocery 

stores and by 

young sellers on 

the street 

both male & 

female dealers of 

crack 

African American 

gangs control 

crack trade, more 

diversity among 

HCI dealers 

22 
Table 4 

Ethnographers - Cocaine: 1/95 

City 

Miami, FL 

(Page) 

Trenton 

Newark, NJ 

(French) 

New York, NY 

(Galea) 

Austin, TX 

(Maxwell) 

Incidence 

stable 

fluctuates, but 

generally stable 

stable, but some 

slight increase in 

crack sales again 

leveling off 

Who's Using 

wide age range 

higher among African 

A in Users 

fewer very young 

users 

none 

Americans 

older (over 35); 

no changes 

none 

57% African American 

29% white 

13% Hispanic 

Newark, DE 

(Pazzaglini) 

up all groups some rise among 

late teens 

Method 

~ack; injection 

primarily as 

crack 

smoking 

dominant, then 

injection 

injection among 

whites; smoking 

among Afxican 

Americans; 

inhaling among 

Hispanics 

minimal IV use; 

smoking and 

snorting 

dominate 

Other Drugs 

heroin in speedball 

heroin; 

alcohol 

alcohol 

ephedrine; 

methamphetamine 

Rohypnol 

Emerging 

Drugs 

Who's Selling 

general non-addict 

sellers 

young dealers 

methcatheone same sellers as 

heroin 

23 
" Cit~ 

Bridgeport,. CT 

( eter) 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

0~amos) 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

Oakland, CA 

(Fe!dman) 

New York, NY 

(Ooldxmith) 

Atlanta, GA 

(Sterk-Elifon) 

Denver, CO 

(Koester) 

Miami, FL 

Trenton/Newark, NJ 

New York, NY 

Austin, TX 

Newark, DE 

Purchase Amount 

1/8 oz. = $100 

1/8 oz., grams, 1/4 

grams available 

$18,000/kilo; 

1 oz. of crack = $400; 

$5, $10/rock 

$60-$80/gram; 

$20~ock 

$2, $5, $10rocks 

$5, $10 for tiny ziplock 

ba~; some vials " 

$5/rock in plastic bags 

1/4 gr. = $20; 

1 ~r. = $80-$100 

less than $1/mg. 

$10-$30/bag for HCI; 

Purity 

60-70% 

good 

50-60% (crack) 

40-50% for HCI 

stable 

good, but variable 

variable, but pretty high 

40-60% 

high 

Other/Comments 

Number of snorters have declined in housing project areas in favor of crack users. Snorters tend 

to be in more affluent areas and in the clubs. 

Quality of cocaine declining even in large purchases; HCI is generally sold in folded white 

papers, crack in [/ass bottles or wrapped in cellophane. 

Drug sales are part of economic reality of many communities. Work is ongoing on developing a 

variety, of communit~,-based strate[,ies to reduce sales, while reco[~nizin~ this fact. 

Sales from small groceries often extend to next owner when store changes hands;~alled "spots" t 

to distin~uish from re~ular stores. 

Gangs control crack. They push traditional cocaine and heroin injectors out of area because 

these older users don~ use crack. The}, are also more violent and scare the traditional user. 

Crack sold in tinfoil or glass vials, powder in bags. Crack is now also being used by older users 

and, for these users, is often related to street-level prostitution. 

Now seeing some of the younger crack dealers leaving it for the heroin trade; also seeing "scrape 

and snort"phenomenon where large rocks are shared ~ff amounts for snorting. 

Term "street sweep" used for low purity cocaine. 

24 
Table 5 

Police - Cocaine: 1/95 

cit~ 

Dover, DE 

P.D. 

Maryland State 

Police 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

Seatfle, WA 

DEA 

Los Angeles, CA 

P.D. 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

Central Narcotics 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

Washington DC 

P.D. 

Cleveland, OH 

P.D. 

Incidence 

slight increase 

stable 

still high 

stable 

still high 

stable 

high 

stable at a high 

level 

Who's Usin[[ 

large, varied group; high use 

in Haitian community 

stable 

young African American 

users; Hispanic users 

crack associated with gangs 

primarily African American 

men 

young teens to late 20s 

A in Users Other DruBs 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

Method 

crack; some HCI 

smoking; snorting 

smoking; snorting 

smoking; 

some snortin[[ 

smoking; injection 

crack 

all ages, all ethnicities none 

smoking; injection 

younger users for crack none crack; some HCI 

alcohol 

heroin; 

marijuana 

some 

speedballing 

among 

prostitutes 

alcohol; 

marijuana 

Emerging Drugs 

few designer 

drugs 

Who's Sellin 8 

Haitian distributors 

separate dealers and areas 

for heroin & cocaine, 

though some recent 

crossover of cocaine buyers 

seekin~ heroin as well 

gangs disffibute crack 

African American and 

Hispanic seller, separate 

fxom heroin sellers 

marijuana Columbian smugglers 

PCP; 

heroin 

marijuana 

controlled by Panamanian, 

Columbian, Cuban, Iranian, 

Dominican, and African 

Americans. Recent 

increase at retail level of 

Jamaicans 

some gang involvement 

25 
Table 5 (cont'd.) 

Police - Cocaine: 1/95 

cit~ 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

Central Narcotics 

Purchase Amount Purity 

good 

Other/Comments 

Special focus has been on Russian distribution; not an 

emerging problem, but a focus of this group lately. 

Dover, DE good 

P.D. 

Maryland State Police Increase in crack seizures. 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

dropping prices: 

$60/~ram 

$100/gram HC1; 

$5, $10, $25 vials of 

crack 

$10, $15/chip; 

also $50 rocks 

available 

$17,500/kilo; 

Seattle, WA 

DEA 

varies, but generally high 

pufit~ (68-73%) 

30-35% 

low 

high; even street level 40- ' 

Los Angeles, CA 

P.D. 

Miami, FL 

More amphetamines reappearing through Mexico where 

chemicals for its manufacture are easy to obtain. 

P.D. 

Washington, DC 

P.D. 

$35-$50/$ram 

$80-$100/gram 

50% pure 

77-80% D.C. and Prince George Co. continue to be major source 

of supply to suburban areas. Mid-level dealers obtain 

supplies from So. American sources in New York, Miami, 

Los Angeles, and Texas. 

26 
Summary Table 6 

Treatment Providers 

Drug Use Patterns 

1/95 

DRUG: COCAINE/CRACK 

REGION 

I 

N=6 

II 

N=13 

III 

N=10 

IV 

N=IO 

% clients 

w/drug listed 

as 1" drug 

of abuse 

X=62% 

..~=40% 

X=20% 

X=30% 

A over 

last year 

increase 40% 

no change 60% 

decrease 0% 

increase 25% 

~ o change 75% 

ecrease 0% 

increase 33% 

no change 67% 

decrease 0% 

increase 14% 

no change 57% 

decrease 29% 

% clients 

iniecting 

R=5% 

X=11% 

% clients 

inhaling/ 

smoking 

X=92% 

X=95% 

X=89% 

X=72% 

Other Drugs 

Used (% Mentioned) 

heroin 40% 

marijuana 60% 

alcohol 100% 

amphetamines 20% 

heroin 25% 

marijuana 83% 

alcohol 100% 

tranquilizers 25% 

amphetamines 8% 

other 8% 

heroin 11% 

marijuana 67% 

alcohol 100% 

other 11% 

heroin 29% 

marijuana 43% 

alcohol 100% 

tranquilizers 14% 

amphetamines 29% 

Region I: 

Region II: 

Region III: 

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, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota 

Colorad% Montana~ Utah~ Wyoming~ Nevada~ Arizona T California r Idaho r New Mexic% Washington r Oregon 

27 
Percent by Age 

REGION under ' African Hispanic 

20 21-30 31+ American White and Other 

I YC=3% YC=45% YC=52% X=43% X=50% YC=7% 

N=6 

II 

N=13 

III 

N=10 

IV 

N=10 

X=9% 

X=14% 

X=12% 

X=48% 

YC=49% 

X=41% 

YC=43% 

YC=37% 

Summary Table 6 (cont'd.) 

Treatment Providers 

Characteristics of Users by Drug of Abuse 

1/95 

DRUG: COCAINE~CRACK 

Percent by Race/Ethnicity Percent by Sex Prior Treatment 

X=47% 

X=19% 

X=47% X=6% 

YC=42% 

~=79% 

X=81% 

X=11% 

X=2% 

X=13% 

Male Female Yes No 

YC=71% X=29% YC=60% YC=40% 

Yc=64% 

X=74% 

Yc=73% 

Yc=36% 

~--26% 

5(=27% 

YC=49% 

5(=59% 

X=51% 

Yc=51% 

X=41% 

X=49% 

28 
Table 7 

Ethnographers - Marijuana: 1/95 

City Incidence 

Bridgeport, CT 

(Geter) 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

(Rams) 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

Oakland, CA 

(Feldman) 

New York, NY 

(Goldsmith) 

Atlanta, GA 

(Sterk-Elifon) 

high 

high 

up 

high 

up 

high 

high 

Who's Using 

all ethnicities, 13-24 yr. olds 

primarily 

Anglo teens; gang members 

young (17 or younger); 60% 

male; all ethnicities 

A in U~ers 

younger 

increase in 

middle class teen 

users 

more young, new 

users; more 

Hispanics 

users under 25 none 

crack users; college students; 

Hispanic males (older) 

increase in 

Hispanic 

community 

Denver, CO high everyone none 

(Koester) 

Miami, FL stable wide range of users 

(Page) 

increased use 

among young 

middle class 

Method 

blunts 

~m 

bw_ 

Other Drugs 

some concurrent 

use of inhalants 

(paint) among 

low income 

users 

some mixing 

with c~ack or 

PCP 

Emerffing Dru~ 

Y w 

none 

~OVho's Sellin~ 

Rastafarian sellers in 

addition to young street 

sellers 

young dealers who sell 

only marijuana; older 

dealers may deal multiple 

substances 

...... White, younger sellers 

alcohol none 

cocaine some crack dealers are 

selling; mainly white 

sellers of only madi~!ana 

Mexican sources 

MDMA 

29 
Table 7 

City 

Ethnographers - Marijuana: 1/95 

Inddence 

Trenton/ 

Newark, NJ 

(French) 

New York, NY 

(Galea) 

Austin, TX 

(Maxwell) 

Newark, DE 

(Pazzaglini) 

continuing to rise 

high; "it is all 

over the place" 

high 

high 

Who's Using 

variety of users; many more 

whites 

"everyone" 

young adults, teens; 

35% African American; 

40% white 

everyone, including as young 

as junior high age 

A in Users 

none 

increase in 

African 

Americans 

Method 

blunts 

blunts 

Other Drugs Emerging Drugs Who's Selling 

varies, but matches the 

etlmicity of neifthborhood 

30 
Table 7 (cont'd.) 

Ethnographers - Marijuana: 1/95 

City Purchase Amount 

Bridgeport, CT 

(Geter) 

San Antonio/ 

El Paso, TX 

(Samos) 

Los Angeles, CA 

(Annon) 

San Francisco, CA 

(Murphy) 

Oakland, CA 

(Feldman) 

New York, NY 

(Goldsmith) 

Atlanta, GA 

(Sterk-Elifon) 

Denver, CO 

~Koester) 

$10/bag 

$600-$700flb. 

sensimiUia $800- 

$3500Ab.; 

$100-$300 oz.; little 

in smaller units 

$400-$450/oz. for 

locally ~:rown 

$80 = 1/2 oz.; 

$5, $10/bag; 

$150 = 1/4 oz. for 

sensimillia 

good 

variable 

THC content 7-15% 

high 

variable 

Purity Other/Comments 

Gram bags are being sold in small baggles in the high schools for $10-$15. 

Sold in clear glass envelopes with logos on them 

$10-$15/bag good 

variable, but some very high quality and very Two grades of marijuana sold: one (poor quality) for street joints, and other 

expensive (high quality) for "the yuppy neighborhoods." 

31 
City Purchase Amount 

Miami, FL 

(Pa~e) 

9 Trenton/Newark, NJ 

(French) 

Tampa, FL 

(Mieczkowski) 

New York, NY 

(Galea) 

Austin, TX 

(Maxwell) 

Newark, DE 

(Pazzazlini) 

$5, $10, $20/bags; 

$100/oz. 

6 ~ x 6" baggie sold for 

$40 

Table 7 (cont'd.) 

Ethnographers - Marijuana: 1/95 

Purity Other/Comments 

It is moving out of the hardcore street group to young (12 and up) from all 

social classes. 

good 

good 

Marijuana use is prevalent and available as Phillies blunts. However, there are 

few arrests for marijuana. 

Dutch Masters are replacing PhiUies as cigar of choice for blunts as they are , 

seen as softer, easier to roll and better tasting. 

Sources for better quality are from out of state though there is a lot grown 

locally (in Delaware). 

32 
Table 8 

Police - Marijuana I195 

ci~ 

Dover, DE 

P.D. 

Maryland State 

Police 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

Seattle, WA 

DEA 

Los Angeles, CA 

P.D. 

(So. Central) 

New York, NY 

P.D. 

Central Narcotics 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

Washington DC 

P.D. 

Cleveland, OH 

P.D. 

Inddence 

alight increase 

Who's Usin[[ 

high school, college aged 

USers 

A in Users 

none 

availability high 

and increasin~ 

stable 

stable 

stable 

increasingly 

available 

up 

increasing 

seizures 

young users 

young users 

older users, but increased 

use among school age 

young users 18-23; 

especially prevalent among 

gang members 

teens 

"everyone" 

teens and young Mulls 

none 

none 

increase in teens 

none 

none 

none 

blunts 

Method Other Dru~s 

FCP; 

LSD; 

alcohol 

Emerl~in ~ Druss Who's Selling 

Diverse sources, some 

locally grown 

alcohol .... 

new marketing evident 

alcohol 

LSD 

PCP; 

alcohol 

lots of local, older 

"hippies" who travel to 

Mexico to buy or grow 

locally 

Mexican Americans sell 

after receiving from 

Mexican sources; young 

street sellers 

Tex-Mex growers as well 

as Jamaican sources; 

domestically grown 

sensimillla 

Jamaican and domestic 

growers; also Mexican & 

Texan sources 

33 
Table 8 (cont'd.) 

Police - Marijuana: 1/95 

ci~ 

New York, NY 

P.D. Central Narcotics 

Dover, DE 

P.D. 

Maryland State Police 

Purchase Amount 

$5 bags now available 

$55-$60 -- 1/4 oz. 

$30-$35 = 1/8 oz. 

Boston, MA 

P.D. 

Seattle, WA exotic varieties = 

DEA $600-$700/lb. 

Los Angeles, CA $10Asag 

P.D. 

(So. C~n~) 

Miami, FL 

P.D. 

Washington, DC 

P.D. 

$150-$200/oz. 

$10-$20/ba~ 

good 

high 

varies 

good 

Purity 9 Other/Comments 

Smaller unit packaging apparent making it more available 

to young users. 

Much comes from Mexico, e.g., recent incident where 50 

Ibs. was brought over in a gas tank. 

Small bags, envelopes available and increasingly seized 

on street. 

Increasingly popular mode of smuggling supplies into DC 

is UPS or Federal Express in shipments weighing up to 

100 lbs. 

34 
Summary Table 9 

Treatment Providers 

Drug Use Patterns 

1/95 

DRUG: MARIJUANA 

REGION 

I 

N=6 

H 

N=13 

III 

N=IO 

IV 

N=10 

Region I: 

% clients 

w/drug listed 

as 1 ~ drug 

of abuse 

X=18% 

X=19% 

X=16% 

/~ over 

last year 

increase 25% 

no change 75% 

decrease 0% 

increase 18% 

no change 82% 

decrease 0% 

increase 0% 

no change 90% 

decrease 10% 

increase 0% 

no change 100% 

decrease 0% 

Other Drugs 

Used 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New 

Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania 

cocaine 50% 

alcohol 75% 

tranquilizers 25% 

heroin 18% 

cocaine 36% 

alcohol 100% 

amphetamines 9% 

cocaine 20% 

alcohol 100% 

tranquilizers 10% 

alcohol 75% 

amphetamines 13% 

other 25% 

Jersey, Rhode Island, New 

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

Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Delaware, 

Virginia, West Virginia, D.C. 

Region III: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, 

Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota 

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

Mexico, Washington, Oregon 

35 
Summary Table 9 (cont'd.) 

Treatment Providers 

Characteristics of Users by Drug of Abuse 

1/95 

DRUG: MARIJUANA 

Percent by Age Percent by Race/Ethnicity Percent by Sex Prior Treatment 

REGION 

I 

N=6 

II 

N=13 

III 

N=I0 

IV 

N=IO 

under 

2O 

~=21% 

X=19% 

:~=28% 

:~=59% 

21-30 

X=65% 

X=40% 

:~=38% 

~(=31% 

31+ 

X=14% 

Y(=41% 

X=34% 

X=lO% 

African 

American 

X=36% 

X=35% 

X=12% 

X=2% 

White 

X=63% 

:c=5o% 

X=84% 

X=72% 

Hispanic 

and Other 

X=1% 

X=15% 

X=4% 

X=26% 

Male 

X=86% 

X=74% 

~=77% 

X=69% 

Female 

X=14% 

5(=26% 

:c=23% 

X=31% 

Yes No 

:~--50% ~--50% 

:~=31% :~=69% 

X=24% :C-76% 

:C=34% X=66% 

36 
Prepared for: 

Executive. Office of the President 

Office of National.Drug Control Policy 

750.17th Street, iV. W., 9 Floor 

washington, DC 20500 1 

Pmpareg by.. 

Da~ .HUnt, Ph.D. 

Edited by: 

o- 
Office of National Drug Control Policy 

Executive Office of the President 

Washington, D.C. 20500