NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...

Heroin and Morphine
After 2 years of morphine-related deaths declining,
an increase of 18.4 percent was projected for 2003.
In DAWN Live! unweighted data, there were 732
reports in which heroin was the major substance of
abuse in 2004 (exhibit 7).
Heroin and other opiates were identified by 11 percent
of individuals in Arizona who sought treatment
through the Division of Behavioral Health Services in
2004 (exhibit 8). The Community Bridges data consistently
show that 10 percent of individuals who
seek services at the clinics report use of heroin and
other opiates.
Law enforcement agencies report an increase in the
demand for heroin during the last two quarters. Black
tar and Mexican brown powder heroin are readily
available. Purity levels remained relatively constant
throughout FY 2004. Purity levels ranged between 42
and 85 percent, with an average purity of 55 to 58
percent. It has been speculated that users may now
snort or smoke the purer form of heroin.
Phoenix and Tucson continue to serve as transshipment
and distribution points for Mexicanproduced
heroin smuggled into Arizona. According
to the Phoenix DEA, raw opium gum is being purchased
from ranchers in mountain areas of Mexico.
The drug organizations are then processing the raw
opium gum into a heroin base that is stored in jars.
Reportedly, 1 kilogram of raw opium gum sells for
$1,000–$1,500. It takes approximately 8 kilograms of
opium gum to process into 1 kilogram of brown
powder heroin.
Between FY 2001 and FY 2004, prices for heroin in
Phoenix decreased for all quantities, except for a
“20” or “BB,” which sold for $20 in both periods.
The Phoenix DEA, U.S. Customs, Arizona Department
of Public Safety, Phoenix Police Department,
and the Maricopa County Sheriff Department reported
an ounce selling for $750–$900 during the
fourth quarter of FY 2004 (exhibit 10). It had sold for
$950–$1,000 in June 2003. Wholesale prices for a
kilogram dropped from $42,000–$50,000 in June
2003 to $28,000–$35,000.
The Phoenix DEA office reported the cost of 1 kilogram
of South American heroin to be $52,000.
Other Opiates
In the unweighted DAWN Live! data for 2004, there
were 1,055 reports of drug misuse for opiates/opi-
EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE—Phoenix and Arizona
oids, 207 cases for hydrocodone, and 298 cases for
oxycodone (exhibit 11).
ADHS/DBHS reported 3 percent of Arizona admissions
for primary substances abuse were for “all
other” drugs during FY 2004 (exhibit 8). The TASC
Adult Deferred Prosecution Program reported 5.1
percent of admissions were for other opiates (exhibit
9a). The Community Bridges program reported 4.8
percent of admissions for the first half of FY 2005
(July–December 2004) were for other opiates.
Law enforcement continues to investigate Internet
pharmacies and physicians. To date, one pharmacy
and three physicians have been involved with seven
Internet Web sites. Seizures of assets (mostly cash)
total more than $1,200,000. Federal indictments are
being sought against the Web site operators, owners
of the participating pharmacies, and the physicians.
A naturopathic physician was convicted on 185
counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances.
The physician was ordered to surrender his DEA
Registration. The physician issued controlled substances
without conducting physical examinations,
diagnostic tests, or patient histories. The patients paid
$60 per prescription for OxyContin, Dilaudid, morphine,
and hydrocodone in quantities ranging from 80
to 120 tablets for each prescription. The patients returned
several times a week for additional prescriptions
in the same quantities.
Law enforcement agencies report OxyContin selling
for $20–$25 per 40-milligram tablet and $20–$80 per
80-milligram tablet. The price for one tablet of Percocet
was $5, and one tablet of Vicodin ES sold for
$5 (exhibit 10).
Marijuana
Unweighted data accessed from DAWN Live! show
that there were 1,089 reports of marijuana in 2004
(exhibit 7).
ADHS/DBHS data revealed 12 percent of individuals
who sought treatment during FY 2004 were for marijuana
use/abuse (exhibit 8). The TASC Adult Deferred
Prosecution Program reported 23.3 percent of
admissions reported marijuana use/abuse from March
1989 to December 2004 (exhibit 9a).
The TASC Client Drug Test Results Summary for
Maricopa County Juvenile Probation for October
through December 2004 reported 73 percent (n=3,064
of 4,214) tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) (exhibit 9b).
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005 197