CEWG January 09 Full Report - National Institute on Drug Abuse

EpidEmiologic TrEnds in drug AbusE: HigHligHTs And ExEcuTivE summAry
Heroin
• Heroin primary treatment admissions, as a percentage of total admissions, including primary
alcohol admissions, were particularly high in Baltimore City (approximately 55 percent), followed
by Boston (approximately 48 percent) in the first half of 2008 (appendix table 1; section II, table
2; table 4 below). In Boston, Baltimore City, and Detroit, heroin primary admissions ranked first as
the most frequent substance abuse admissions in the reporting period (section II, table 2).
• In 16 of 22 <strong>CEWG</strong> areas, heroin items accounted for less than 10 percent of total drug items
identified in NFLIS forensic laboratories in the first half of 2008. Proportions were highest in
Baltimore City and Maryland (approximately 22 and 20 percent, respectively). They were lowest
in Texas and Atlanta, at approximately 2 percent of drug items identified (figure 16; appendix
table 2). Heroin was not ranked first in drug items seized in any <strong>CEWG</strong> area (section II, table 1).
• According to the DEA’s HDMP, in CY 2007, South American (SA) heroin continued to be the
primary source of heroin east of the Mississippi River, as has been the case since the mid-1990s,
while Mexican black tar and, to a lesser extent, Mexican brown powder heroin dominated
markets west of the Mississippi (figure 17).
• From 2006 to 2007, average purity levels for SA heroin increased in 6 of 10 <strong>CEWG</strong> areas
(Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington, DC), in contrast to
2005–2006, when purity levels remained stable or declined in most areas (table 5).
• Over the 1-year period from 2006 to 2007, average prices for SA heroin fell in 6 of 10 <strong>CEWG</strong> areas
(Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington, DC) and rose in 4 (Philadelphia, New
York City, Baltimore, and Detroit). From 2006 to 2007, the highest unit increase was for Detroit
($0.22), while the highest unit decrease was for Atlanta ($0.45) (table 5).
• From 2006 to 2007, Mexican heroin average purity declined in five <strong>CEWG</strong> areas (San Diego, El
Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and San Francisco). Average purity increased in four areas (Seattle,
Phoenix, Denver, and Dallas), and remained constant in one area (Los Angeles). The average price
was lower or the same in 2007, compared with 2006, in 7 of 10 reporting <strong>CEWG</strong> areas, namely
Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston. It was higher in El Paso,
San Antonio, and San Francisco (table 6).
Treatment Admission Data on Heroin
In this reporting period (the first half of 2008) for
18 of 22 <strong>CEWG</strong> areas, primary heroin treatment
admissions, as a proportion of total admissions
for substance abuse treatment, including primary
alcohol admissions, ranged from approximately
2 percent in Hawai‘i to approximately 55 percent
in Baltimore City. After Baltimore City, Boston
had the highest proportion of heroin admissions,
at 48.3 percent of all admissions (table 4). The
lowest percentage of primary heroin admissions,
after Hawai‘i (2.3 percent), was in Miami/Dade
County (3.6 percent).
When all admissions, including those for
whom alcohol was the primary drug, are examined,
heroin ranked first in Boston, Baltimore
City, and Detroit, and second in New York City
and Maryland (section II, table 2).
Forensic Laboratory Data on Heroin
In 16 of the 22 <strong>CEWG</strong> areas shown on the map
in figure 12 (section II), heroin items accounted
for less than 10 percent of the total drug items
reported by NFLIS. The exceptions were New
York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore City,
and Maryland. As a proportion of total drug items,
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Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, <strong>January</strong> 20<strong>09</strong>