The Pulse Check indicates that the market for heroin, while variable across sites, remains relatively stable. Although some sites are experiencing a small increase in the number of snorters and skin-poppers, injection remains the predominant route of administration for heroin. Several areas report seeing younger users -- a disturbing trend, while others continue to report an older age cohort of heroin users. Polydrug use, particularly heroin and cocaine used in combination with marijuana and alcohol, was cited by many ethnographic sources. Interestingly, law enforcement officials in several sites indicated the number of "double-breasted" or joint sales of heroin and cocaine appear to be declining.
The purity or quality of illicit drugs, particularly heroin, cocaine, and marijuana continues to rise while prices have remained stable or decreased slightly over the past 6 months in most sites. Higher quality marijuana appears to be entering the market from hydroponic growers, many of whom are selling what they grow at home.
Consistent with findings of the last issue of Pulse Check, the trend of younger drug users continues. In Minneapolis, for example, 46% of those admitted for methamphetamine treatment between 1996 and 1997 were under the age of 25.
Some sites also report young sellers of drugs; Boston, for example, reports high school students are selling marijuana, and San Antonio report youth serving as sellers for the Mexican mafia. Several sites indicate a trend toward the sale of heroin and cocaine via beeper with home deliveries made in a number of sites.
The entry of home-grown marijuana into the market and a potential increase in the number of indoor sales of cocaine and heroin pose a number of challenges for our Nation’s law enforcement at the same time the trend in some sites of increased drug use among youth could pose a great burden on the drug treatment system if this new population of users matures into hard-core addicts. The rave or club scene where the use of a wide range of drugs poses serious health risks for youth is also cause for concern.
These findings are not generalizable to the Nation as they represent a relatively small number of cities across the country, but we continue to see a strong association between the reports of each separate source and traditional data sources regarding drug use trends. As the sites and sources included in the Pulse Check are expanded over the next year we expect to be able to identify clear regional trends in drug use.
