Part IV: Emerging Drugs
Both law enforcement officials and ethnographers frequently identify methamphetamine, Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA and various hallucinogens, and illegally used prescription drugs as emerging drugs in their areas. This is generally consistent with recent Pulse Checks, though the saliency of any given drug may have changed in particular areas.
Ethnographers in Denver, Atlanta, and Baltimore all report an emergence of methamphetamine. This is significant because it shows that methamphetamine is spreading from its traditional Western domain. In San Diego, the ethnographer reports that methamphetamine use has more than doubled. Reportedly, methamphetamine use in that area is so widespread that it rivals cocaine in popularity. Law enforcement sources in Los Angeles, Denver, Boston, and Columbia report that methamphetamine use is on the rise. Finally, treatment providers continue to describe high rates of use in the West/Southwest region.
The Chicago ethnographer, however, comments that there is no methamphetamine use in the local area. The Chicago law enforcement source agrees that, in the urban Chicago area, methamphetamine use is a rarity, but added that in more rural, western parts of Illinois, methamphetamine use is more common. Similarly, Miami sources comment that although methamphetamine is not endemic to the urban Miami area, its use is visible in more rural central/northern parts of Florida.
Ketamine, or "Special K" continues to gain popularity. Ketamine, an animal tranquilizer that has legitimate uses in veterinary medicine, was first reported as a drug of abuse in a 1995 Pulse Check. In this round of calls, sources report that its abuse is growing: Law enforcement sources in Columbia and New York report the emergence of Ketamine and ethnographic sources in Atlanta, Newark, and San Francisco report the use of Ketamine, though the San Francisco sources report that use of "Special K" is not a new phenomenon. The Newark source elaborates that there is "lots of it -- surprising amounts." Indeed, in Baltimore, sources report that veterinary offices have been burglarized for the drug.
GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate) is cited as an emergent drug by several sources. The Newark ethnographic source reports that, on the street, it is called GBH -- "grievous bodily harm" -- and the Miami ethnographer also notes its recent appearance there. Both Chicago and Miami law enforcement sources also report the presence of GHB in their areas. In Chicago, GHB seems to be confined primarily to the suburbs. The Miami law enforcement source reports the street name of GHB to be "Georgia home-boy." This source also reports that GHB is used as a date rape drug.
Rohypnol is reported as an emergent drug in many areas. Rohypnol, reported originally in Texas and Florida in several earlier Pulse Check reports, continues to attract media attention as a date rape drug. Although Rohypnol is not reported by any of the ethnographic sources, law enforcement officials in Washington D.C., Miami, New York, Austin, and San Antonio report it as an emerging drug.
MDMA and/or other drugs with hallucinogenic effects (such as LSD) are also reported in many areas. Law enforcement sources in Boston, Columbia, and New York, and ethnographic sources in Seattle report the use of MDMA. The ethnographers in Newark and San Diego report LSD and other hallucinogen use in their areas.
Law enforcement sources in Birmingham, Washington D.C., and Baltimore report problems with illegally used prescription drugs. In Birmingham, sources specifically note the appearance of Dilaudid, a synthetic narcotic tablet with an analgesic potency similar to heroin. Dilaudid is also mentioned by sources in Washington DC, in addition to Percocet, Percodan, and Valium.
Finally, two sources report some variations in drug marketing. In New York, one ethnographic source reports that a mixture of heroin and crack is being marketed under a new name, "moon rock" or "dragon rock." Reportedly, this is being done to avoid the negative stigmas attached to the use of these drugs. In Newark, ethnographic sources report that heroin is being cut with scopolamine and strychnine, creating a dangerous product known on the street as "spike" or "homicide."
