Methadone, which is used to treat heroin addiction, has always had some black market value, but it is rarely a primary drug of abuse. Notably, ethnographers report significant changes in the distribution market for heroin in some areas, particularly those where high purity heroin has been available for some time. Recently, however, dealers are selling both drugs in joint sales markets. While this may not seem surprising, it is anomalous for street sales in most of the country. These developments are discussed in greater detail in a section devoted specifically to the heroin trade at the end of this report.
Sellers are usually males in their twenties, and some belong to gangs.
In Austin, sources report that West Africans sell Southeast Asian heroin, while Hispanics sell Mexican heroin. Prices of heroin remain stable. Sources in California and Colorado report slightly higher prices. One notable exception is in Baltimore, where prices have dropped significantly since the last Pulse Check . Of the ten police sources contacted, six report that heroin use is increasing in their areas.