NCJ Number
136249
Editor(s)
C Johnson
Date Published
1992
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report provides the most current compilation of drug use indicators for the District of Columbia.
Abstract
The data are based on drug arrest and violent offense figures from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Office of the Corporation Counsel, arrestee drug test results from the Pretrial Services Agency, AIDS-related data from the Commission of Public Health's Office of AIDS Activities, drug-related emergency room and medical examiner mentions from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug price and purity information, and regional drug abuse hotline information from the Washington Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. The data reveal that cocaine use has declined over the past couple of years, while the picture for heroin is mixed. Shifts in the heroin market occurred in 1990, with the drug's purity rising and price declining. Statistical indicators of heroin use in the District of Columbia do not reflect a heroin resurgence, but anecdotal information suggests that heroin use may be rising. The most promising trend is occurring with PCP use which continues to decline. There are indications that youth are not using drugs as much as in previous years, and it appears that drug use among youth may be shifting from hard drugs such as cocaine or PCP to marijuana. In addition, youth involvement in drug selling seems to be declining slightly. While the decline in drug involvement among youth is encouraging, a new trend is emerging that shows a rise in the involvement of youth in violent, gun-related crime. Drug abuse trends are specifically detailed for cocaine, heroin, PCP, marijuana, LSD, and alcohol. Consideration is also given to drug-related homicide and violence and AIDS among intravenous drug users. 6 tables and 8 figures