NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...

ADHS/DBHS reported that more than one-half (59
percent) of all clients who received substance abuse
treatment services were between the ages of 25 and
44 (21,420) in FY 2004 (exhibit 4). Males continued
to represent the largest gender group entering substance
abuse treatment. Males accounted for 80.2
percent of youth and 67.1 percent of adult treatment
participants during FY 2004. DBHS reported that
women with children represent a growing segment of
the treatment caseload. In FY 2004, approximately 20
percent of women who received substance abuse
treatment had young children with them at admission.
During State FY 2004, the ADHS/DBHS Bureau for
Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention treatment
services reported that individual, family, and group
counseling represented the largest category of expenditures
for substance abuse services (29 percent),
followed by expenditures for support services that
include case management, peer support, and transportation
(18 percent); crisis and detoxification services
(17 percent); and medical pharmacy costs (17 percent)
(exhibit 5).
Self-referral was identified by 63 percent of treatment
participants in the ADHS/DBHS public behavioral
health system. Twelve percent were referred by a
Federal agency, such as the Veterans Administration
or Indian Health Service, and 11.5 percent were referred
by a criminal justice agency. Criminal justice
referrals accounted for a far larger proportion of total
referrals to the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities
serving rural regions of the State compared with
the more urban areas.
During FY 2004, more than one-half of individuals
admitted to substance abuse treatment were identified
with a primary diagnosis of drug or alcohol
abuse/dependence (59.7 percent). Approximately 13
percent of participants were identified with a cooccurring
mental health issue in addition to a substance
use disorder, including depression (7.7 percent),
anxiety (2 percent), suicide risk (2 percent), or
psychosis (1.2 percent) (exhibit 6).
Cocaine/Crack
The peak year for cocaine-related deaths was 1999
(n=215), but deaths have declined each year to a projected
low of 63 deaths for 2003.
Unweighted data accessed from DAWN Live! reflect
the major substances of abuse and misuse for 2004.
There were 1,560 cocaine DAWN reports that year
(exhibit 7).
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EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE—Phoenix and Arizona
Of those who presented for treatment to the
ADHS/DBSH system in FY 2004, 9 percent reported
cocaine as their primary drug (exhibit 8).
During FY 2004, Community Bridges detoxification
and recovery clinics served a total of 13,337 individuals.
Of this total, 1 percent reported cocaine use
and 4 percent reported crack use. Between July 1 and
December 31, 2004, 6,586 clients were served, and
cocaine and crack use combined represented 9.2 percent
of this total. Crack use was twice as common as
reported cocaine use.
The TASC Adult Deferred Prosecution Program cumulative
data do not reflect any change in the percentage
of admissions for cocaine treatment. Through
December 31, 2004, 28.7 percent (4,576) of admissions
were for cocaine treatment (exhibit 9a). Six
percent of juveniles tested positive for cocaine during
October–December 2004 (exhibit 9b).
During FY 2004, the DEA laboratory analyzed approximately
75 samples from cocaine seizures. Purities
ranged from 31 to 96 percent, with an average
purity of 74 percent. Prices for an ounce of cocaine
powder dropped slightly in FY 2004 from the previous
reporting period (FY 2001). In Phoenix, the
ounce price dropped from $500–$800 to $450–$650
(exhibit 10). The price for a kilogram dipped slightly
from $15,000–$17,000 to $13,500–$15,000.
Crack cocaine continues to be readily available in the
Phoenix metropolitan area. A rock continues to sell
for $20. The National Drug Intelligence Center reported
a wholesale price of $7,500 for a pound.
The DEA reports the possibility of an increase in the
availability and purity of cocaine in the next few
months because of the introduction of a new strain of
coca plant that has been reported to yield up to four
times more cocaine. The Colombian drug cartels reportedly
have spent approximately $106,000,000 in
research and development to bring the new product to
the market. Through crossbreeding strains from Peru
with potent Colombian varieties and using genetic
engineering, the new strain grows to more than 10
feet tall and maintains a higher purity.
Most of the crack cocaine in Phoenix is off-white to
light yellowish color and has been “cooked” in a Tupperware-style
bowl in a microwave. Once cooked, it is
broken up into chunks, put into baggies, and sold in
quantities ranging from “rocks” to ounces. In the African-American
community, half-ounce quantities are
referred to as “half birds,” and ounce quantities are
called “full birds.”
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005