According to the Spring 1995 Pulse Check, while older, inner-city residents continue to be the main users of heroin, an increase in the number of younger, suburban users has been reported in some areas.
Several factors seem to be attracting new users to heroin.
Availability of the drug is high, and many crack and cocaine dealers are switching to heroin sales. The availability of high-purity heroin has resulted in an increase in inhalation as a mode of ingestion, particularly in the Northeast. Treatment providers in the Northeast report that equal numbers of heroin inhalers and injectors are entering treatment. The availability of inhalable heroin attracts many new users because it is less stigmatizing than injection and there is no risk of HIV infection.