NCJ Number
123941
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Data from urinalyses and interviews of male arrestees in 21 cities and female arrestees in 17 of these cities formed the basis of these estimates in drug use among arrestees.
Abstract
Findings showed that the percentage of male arrestees testing positive for a drug at the time of arrest ranged from 53 percent in San Antonio to 82 percent in San Diego. The range for female arrestees was from 45 percent in Indianapolis to 83 percent in Washington, D.C. About 20 percent of the male and female arrestees tested positive for two or more drugs. Cocaine was the most prevalent drug for the majority of arrestees, and Philadelphia had the highest level of cocaine use, with 74 percent of males testing positive. Opiate use was most prevalent in Chicago, where 27 percent of the male arrestees tested positive. The percentage of male arrestees testing positive for marijuana ranged from 12 percent in Washington, D.C. to 42 percent in San Diego. Amphetamine use was found mainly in arrestees in western cities. The charge most associated with drug use for males was drug sale and possession. Comparisons over time showed that in seven cities the drug use in the fourth quarter of 1989 was lower than at any time since the program began in 1987. Figures and tables.