NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...

correspond to decreases in total admissions, including
primary methamphetamine admissions in 2003.
DAWN unweighted emergency department (ED)
reports of methamphetamine totaled 335 in the first
half of 2004, representing 61 percent of the 549
“Stimulant” reports (which also include amphetamines)
(exhibit 5).
Price data from NDIC show that methamphetamine
cost $60 per gram in the last half of 2004 (exhibit 6).
Other indicator data in San Diego County show the
following patterns and trends in methamphetamine
abuse:
• Methamphetamine overdose deaths peaked in
1997 (62), decreased in 1999 (37), increased
again in 2001 (61), and declined in 2003 (48).
• Methamphetamine-positive toxicology tests
among adult male arrestees increased from 32 to
36 percent from 2002 to 2003. Methamphetamine-positive
tests among adult female arrestees
increased from 37 to 47 percent over the same
time period, while those among juvenile arrestees
increased from 9 to 15 percent.
Over many years, San Diego County has had considerable
experience in assessing and addressing problems
associated with methamphetamine production
and abuse. One of the first questions that had to be
addressed was, “What are we going to do about the
problem?” In response, the County Board of Supervisors
established the Methamphetamine Strike Force
in March 1996, a collaborative “assessment and action”
effort involving more than 60 members. The
MSF makes use of 10 data sources to guide the Force
in assessing the problem at the community level, determining
what actions to take, and evaluating results.
It was recognized from the beginning that addressing
the problems associated with methamphetamine required
a long-term commitment; thus, attention was
focused on many different aspects of the problem,
including the following:
• Developing effective plans and policies
• Controlling the availability of precursor chemicals
• Taking steps to protect endangered children
• Making effective use of the media
• Developing and making use of training at all levels
The two newest initiatives include a focus on women
and the border.
222
EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE—San Diego County, California
The Strike Force Web site is: .
Cocaine/Crack
Cocaine indicators remained relatively stable over the
past 9 years. This stimulant is still a serious problem
in San Diego. Cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) and crack
are readily available in San Diego.
Nearly 14 percent of the drug items analyzed by forensic
labs in FY 2004 were cocaine items (exhibit 2).
Treatment admissions for primary cocaine abuse,
excluding alcohol, accounted for 10.4 percent of admissions
in 2004, down slightly from 2001 (exhibit
3). Eighty-two percent of the cocaine admissions in
2004 were for crack abuse.
Unweighted ED reports of cocaine totaled 245 in the
first half of 2004 and accounted for 17.3 percent of
the illicit drug reports (excluding Alcohol Only for
persons younger than 21).
Heroin
A small percentage (1.5 percent) of the 15,018 drug
items analyzed in FY 2004 was heroin items (exhibit 2).
Treatment admissions for primary heroin abuse (excluding
alcohol) represented 10.4 percent of the illicit
drug admissions in 2004.
NDIC reports that Mexican brown powder costs $60–
$100 per gram while Mexican black tar costs $50–
$100 per gram.
Other Opiates
Opiates other than heroin accounted for 2.6 percent
(n=389) of the drug items analyzed by forensic labs
in FY 2004 (exhibit 2). Of the other opiate items,
39.3 percent were hydrocodone items, 9.5 percent
were oxycodone, and 8.7 percent were codeine items.
During the first half of 2004, there were 297 unweighted
ED reports of opiates/opioids. These accounted
for 45 percent of the “Drugs of Misuse” reports.
Of the 297 opiate/opioid reports, 110 (37 percent)
were hydrocodone reports and 42 (14 percent)
were oxycodone reports.
Marijuana
Marijuana continues to be a serious problem in San
Diego. Slightly more than one-half (50.8 percent) of
the items analyzed by forensic labs in FY 2004 were
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005