Description of Sources

Twelve ethnographers, epidemiologists, and other ethnographic sources were contacted for this issue of the Pulse Check. All contacts report information on changes and trends in heroin, cocaine, and marijuana use over the six months prior to the interview. In addition, they report characteristics of drug users and sellers in their communities and any emerging drug trends. In this issue, ethnographers, epidemiologists, and other ethnographic sources came from the following cities: San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Newark, Delaware; Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; New York, New York (two sources); and Seattle, Washington. The appendix describes the topics raised in conversations with sources and provides a list of the ethnographic sources.

Eighteen law enforcement sources from different cities across the country were contacted for this issue of the Pulse Check. They were consulted in the same manner as the ethnographers. For safety reasons, law enforcement sources cannot be identified. For this issue, the law enforcement sources represent the Police Departments of the following cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Los Angeles, California; Denver, Colorado; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Columbia, Maryland; Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Eugene, Oregon; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, Washington; and Yakima, Washington.

One hundred eight drug treatment providers were interviewed for this issue of the Pulse Check. These providers were selected to represent all regions of the country and both large (i.e., over 100 clients) and small programs. The appendix describes the information gathered from treatment providers, the method used to select providers, and details regarding regional selection.