NCJ Number
211193
Date Published
June 2004
Length
127 pages
Annotation
This executive summary report provides a summary of findings regarding drug use patterns and trends that were presented at the 56th semiannual meeting of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG), held in Arlington, VA in June 2004.
Abstract
Information provided by the CEWG is designed to inform authorities at the local, State, regional, and national levels of the current drug use trends and potential problems. During the June 2004 CEWG meeting, 21 CEWG representatives and members of the Panel on Prescription Drug Abuse presented their research findings while other presentations addressed how to access local and State arrest data and reviewed the most recent data provided by the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network. Among the main findings of CEWG members was the escalation of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drug abuse across the Nation since the early 1990s. Heroin abuse indicators have remained at low levels and cocaine/crack abuse indicators have remained at high levels across the country, with some indication of an upward trend in cocaine abuse in northeastern cities. Methamphetamine abuse indicators have also remained high nationwide, as have had marijuana abuse indicators. Evidence suggests that the abuse of MDMA is decreasing nationwide, with the exception of the city of New Orleans, while the abuse of PCP remains at low levels in most of the areas under examination. Polydrug abuse, the abuse of both illicit and licit drugs, continues to characterize most drug abusers in the United States. The report also contains descriptions of the functions of CEWG meetings, the attributes of the CEWG, and the primary data sources used by CEWG members. Exhibits, references, appendixes