NCJ Number
197242
Date Published
November 2002
Length
92 pages
Annotation
This document provides highlights of a study on drug trends in the United States.
Abstract
The study was based on telephone discussions with 78 epidemiologists, ethnographers, law enforcement officials, and methadone and non-methadone treatment providers from 20 sites in June and August 2002. Results reveal that, when comparing spring 2002 with the previous fall period, the majority of sources believed their communities’ drug abuse problem to be very serious but stable, although a substantial percentage believed the situation to be somewhat worse. Heroin continues to surpass crack as the drug associated with the most serious consequences, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Crack remains a serious problem, particularly in the South. Marijuana remains the most widely abused illicit drug. Methamphetamine is reported as an emerging or intensifying problem in 10 cities. Sources in eight cities, particularly in the West, consider it the drug contributing to the most serious consequences. Some signs indicate that diversion of OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-released) might have peaked during the last reporting period. It continues to be reported as an emerging problem by sources in 14 cities. Ecstasy or MDMA continues to emerge or intensify as a problem in all but five cities: in Detroit, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and Portland (Maine), it has now either leveled off or has become an established drug of abuse. 59 exhibits, 5 appendices