Pulse Check: National Trends in Drug Abuse
Winter 1995
Table 1
Ethnographers - Heroin
City Incidence Who is Using D in Method Other Emerging Who's
Users Drugs Drugs Selling
Austin, TX high males, more injecting methamphe Hispanics
(Maxwell) average age young, , some tamine sell black
37; 50% white"yup snorting Rohypnol tar;
Hispanic, pies" now ephedrine Nigerians,
35% White, seeking Pakistani,
15% African treatment Colombian
American sellers for
other types.
San high widespread more new, snorting, methamphet MDMA
Francisco, increase in young smoking amine psilocybi
CA use, users, (on n
(Murphy) especially especiall foil), LSD
among the y among injecting
young runaway
youth
Atlanta, high none injecting cocaine Ketamine Mixed
GA , methamphe ethnicities,
(Sterk- snorting tamine males; some
Elifson) "club sales with
drugs" cocaine in
parts of
city.
El Paso, high traditional, some new injecting cocaine Mexican and
TX older users young local
(Ramos) users sellers;
Mexican
Mafia
sources.
New York, high traditional none snorting, cocaine in More female
NY older users injecting speedball users are
(Galea) as well as selling;
younger separate
snorters; market from
male other drugs.
dominated in
both cases
Chicago, high traditional increased injecting crack PCP Mexican
IL users plus snorting, , Ritalin brown heroin
(Weibel) snorters in particula snorting on North
late teens, rly when West side
early 20s combined sold by
with Latinos;
crack China White
distributed
by
Nigerians.
Denver, CO high older, increased injecting cocaine in Central and
(Hoffer) traditional White , very speedball South
urban users suburban little Americans
as well as users snorting control
White street
suburban sales.
users
Los slightly males, 35 none injecting cocaine in inhalants African
Angeles, up yrs. or , very speedball methamphe American and
CA older, White little tamine Hispanic
(Annon) and Hispanic snorting dealers; no
combined
sales with
cocaine.
Bridgeport high 25-40 yrs. increased injecting crack PCP gang
, CN old, all snorting , mescaline involvement
(Geter) ethnicities, among 17- snorting in most
some new 22 yr. sales,
young and old African
suburban Americans
users and
Hispanics;
many
suburban
buyers in
urban
dealing
areas
Miami, FL slightly older increased injection cocaine Rohypnol
(Page) up users, White , very MDMA
minorities, users, little
some White more who snorting
users exclusive
ly use
heroin
Trenton/ high traditional more snorting, alcohol MDMA
Newark, NJ older White injecting
(French) minority users of
users; some all ages
Whites
Baltimore, high traditional more injecting cocaine PCP young
MD older inner- young snorting Xanax sellers
(Murdoch) city users; White Clonidine working in
some younger urban crews, not
users, users established
including dealers.
White youths Some out of
town dealers
entering
market
Dover/Newa high upper-middle- more very snorting, cocaine, LSD, MDMA Dealers from
rk, DE class teens young injecting tranquiliz 2C-B, outside the
(Pazzaglin users (13- ers Rohypnol area contact
i) 14 yr. teens at
old) raves or in
clubs.
St. low too few none Rohypnol
Petersburg cases to
, FL judge
(Mieczkows
ki)
New York, high variety of more injecting cocaine "club sees
NY users younger , drugs" expansion in
(Goldsmith users snorting sales areas
) into many
off-street
locations,
some sales
of both
heroin and
cocaine
Table 1 (cont'd.)
Ethnographers - Heroin
City Purchase Purity Other/Comments
Amount
Austin, TX Black tar: high Black tar is most plentiful but more
(Maxwell) $150K/kilo expensive. Colombian or South East Asian
Columbian: heroin is rare but cheaper. Emerging drugs
$85- include Rohypnol and over the counter
100K/kilo ephedrine.
San $60/gram high Heroin is inexpensive and high quality.
Francisco, Black tar Greatest increase is among new young users,
CA and powder some of whom combine it with methamphetamine.
(Murphy) both
available
Atlanta, GA $50/ 1/8oz. 60-90% There has been the appearance of bag marking;
(Sterk- also see snorters "speedballing" lines of
Elifson) cocaine and heroin and some shift from crack
to heroin.
El Paso, TX variable, but gen The practice of "shabanging" or squirting
(Ramos) erally high liquefied heroin into the nose continues among
young users.
New York, NY $5-10/bag high (over 60%) There is increased availability of $5 bag;
(Galea) more shooting galleries opening lately.
Chicago, IL variable China White has become more prevalent in many
(Weibel) areas. Heroin is now being marketed for
snorting with adulterants that can not be
injected. There is also a market increase in
young inner city adults snorting.
Denver, CO $20/"pill" high Prices have dropped and the overall number of
(Hoffer) or balloon users increased. Almost all are injecting.
$80-100/gram
Los Angeles, $80/gram high (70-80%)
CA « gram amt.
(Annon) sold in
balloons
Bridgeport, $10/bag high "P-dope" (high purity heroin) is sold in pre-
CN packaged units which dominate the market.
(Geter) "Scramble" (heroin cut with quinine) is sold
only in one area and is seen as less
desirable.
Miami, FL $10, 15% There is a general increase; expansion into
(Page) $20/capsule more varied sociodemographic groups.
Trenton/Newa $10, $15/bag 65-70% There is still an increasing number of addicts
rk, NJ entering treatment who only inhale the drug.
(French)
Baltimore, $6- varies from 10% c With the drop in price and increase in purity,
MD 10/capsule aps to daily habit costs have declined over 40%.
(Murdock) 50mg units 70-90% bags Market stabilization is occurring with some
also sold in distributors from out of the area (New York)
bags for $50 making in-roads.
Dover/Newark $5/bag for high Young adults and teens in area are
, DE poor quality increasingly attracted to heroin. It is
(Pazzaglini) $20-30/bag available in clubs and at raves. Drug
for better treatment programs in area are seeing more
quality young addicts.
St. Heroin use in the area is "almost zero."
Petersburg,
FL
(Mieczkowski
)
New York, NY $10/bag high Sales of heroin are widespread, some out of
(Goldsmith) superettes/bodegas.
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