Introduction

The Pulse Check is published twice each year by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Since its first publication in 1992, the goal of each Pulse Check has been to capture current information about drug abuse and drug markets from people in the field: drug researchers, law enforcement officers, and substance abuse treatment providers. Approximately 90-100 sources from all parts of the country are consulted for this report.

The Pulse Check is not a population-based survey and should not be considered a substitute for this type of research. Rather, it is designed to provide a concise, qualitative description of the drug scene so that policy makers and researchers are aware of changes or trends as they develop. Pulse Check findings often are corroborated by longer term statistical survey research.

The Pulse Check is conducted by Dr. Dana Hunt and staff of Abt Associates. Information is collected through lengthy conversations with drug ethnographers and epidemiologists; law enforcement agents; and drug treatment providers across the country. The first two sets of sources are selected to represent various regions of the country and generally are the same reporters each round of calls. Treatment providers are selected randomly from a national directory of treatment programs, and represent both small and large programs across the country. Thus they are a unique group for each Pulse Check. Methods of data collection and topics of discussion are described in the appendix. Findings are summarized in narrative form, and then presented in detailed tables at the end of the report. This issue also includes a special section on developments in heroin use patterns.