NCJ Number
180053
Journal
Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 34 Issue: 13 Dated: 1999 Pages: 1733-1763
Date Published
1999
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This paper examines three distinct patterns of drug abuse associated with successive birth cohorts that routinely passed through the criminal justice system in Manhattan, New York City, from 1987 through 1997.
Abstract
The Heroin Injection Generation was born during 1945-54, the Cocaine/Crack Generation was born during 1955-69, and the Blunts (marijuana plus tobacco) Generation was born since 1970. A substantial proportion of the Manhattan arrestees born during 1945-54 initiated heroin injection as young adults in the 1960's and early 1970's, when heroin use was widespread. Many persisted in their heroin and injection practices, often throughout the 1980's and 1990's, when they were in their 30's and 40's, although their numbers have probably been decreasing. Cocaine use was popular among arrestees who were born during 1955-69 and who became regular smokers of crack during the middle and late 1980's. High rates of crack use will probably continue to prevail unless new public policy initiatives are able to curb these confirmed users. Fewer and fewer of the arrestees born since 1970 have become regular users of crack or heroin. The Blunts Generation may have time and resources for more conventional pursuits, because they do not focus most of their financial and labor resources to obtaining and using crack or heroin. However, these inner-city youths face other daunting challenges, including drug-abusing parents, distressed households, isolated from the mainstream, and lack of skills for obtaining legal jobs. This might be an opportune time in Manhattan for shifting some resources away from criminal justice and toward dramatically improving the many social, economic, and political problems of inner-city youths. Figures, tables, and 71 references (Author abstract modified)