Conclusions

This Pulse Check indicates that the market for cocaine/crack seems to have stabilized, with the exception of a few pockets of increased powder use by middle to upper-income users. The good news is that crack is still failing to attract new users. However, the same does not hold true for heroin: sources reiterate that heroin's popularity continues to grow. High purity heroin is available in more areas of the United States, and it is being abused by both older, hardcore users and new users. Many sources report that the market for heroin has grown more organized and discreet, enabling users to access dealers in a more businesslike and less risky fashion.

Marijuana also is thriving. The market is driven by a high level of demand; with users of all ages, demographic groups, and income levels sustaining the market. In addition, the infusion of very high quality domestically grown marijuana into the market, has influenced the overall level of use. Like heroin, there appears to simply be higher purity marijuana available at lower costs and with less law enforcement risks.

In this Pulse Check, most sources note that the trend of rising youth drug use is continuing. The population of marijuana users is dominated by youth. Moreover, this market seems to overlap with the market for emerging drugs including hallucinogens and prescription drugs. In general, there appears to be a high degree of polydrug abuse occurring within this population of young users.

Methamphetamine is salient in street drug markets; in California it is so prevalent that is no longer considered an "emerging" drug. Once a drug localized in Western areas and associated with a limited group of users, methamphetamine seems to be spreading to other areas of the country. Indeed, it has been reported in East Coast cities such as Baltimore and Boston. Unlike some drugs that first appear in urban settings, methamphetamine seems to be popular in more rural areas, as reported by sources in Miami and Chicago. It is ironic that this generation of drug users, who seem to be rejecting crack because of its violent effects, may be fueling the spread of methamphetamine -- a drug that is certainly less well-known than crack, but equally violent and destructive.