CEWG January 09 Full Report - National Institute on Drug Abuse

EpidEmiologic TrEnds in drug AbusE: HigHligHTs And ExEcuTivE summAry
<strong>CEWG</strong> areas, where this form of heroin predominates
in the drug markets (figure 17). The highest
purity levels were reported in 2007 in Phoenix
and Denver (56.9 and 47.6 percent, respectively),
and the lowest were reported in Houston and San
Antonio (7.0 and 7.1 percent, respectively).
From 2006 to 2007, Mexican heroin average
purity declined in five <strong>CEWG</strong> areas, namely San
Diego, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and San
Francisco. Average purity increased in four areas
(Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, and Seattle), between
2.3 and 11.5 percentage points, and remained
constant in one area (Los Angeles) (table 6).
The average price per milligram pure of Mexican
black tar heroin ranged in 2007 from a low
of $0.20 in San Diego to a high of $1.88 in San
Antonio. The average price was lower or the same
in 2007, compared with 2006, in 7 of 10 reporting
<strong>CEWG</strong> areas (Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, San
Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston), but
was higher in El Paso, San Antonio, and San Francisco.
The prices approximately doubled over the
1-year period in San Antonio and San Francisco
(table 6).
Table 5.
Average Percent Purity and Average Price per Milligram Pure in Dollars of South American (SA)
Heroin in 10 <strong>CEWG</strong> Areas, Ordered by Highest Average Purity in 2007: 2004–2007
<strong>CEWG</strong>
Areas
2004
Avg.
Purity
2004
Avg.
Price
2005
Avg.
Purity
2005
Avg.
Price
2006
Avg.
Purity
2006
Avg.
Price
2007
Avg.
Purity
2007
Avg.
Price
Philadelphia 51.6 $0.71 54.9 $0.58 54.9 $0.63 56.3 $0.71
New York City 43.3 $0.62 49.4 $0.46 44.5 $0.67 49.0 $0.79
Detroit 38.9 $0.86 46.6 $0.76 41.4 $0.76 46.0 $0.98
Atlanta 40.9 $2.30 39.3 $2.04 39.1 $2.34 29.1 $1.89
Chicago 13.8 $0.56 17.1 $0.45 12.6 $0.49 22.4 $0.45
St. Louis 1 NR 2 NR 28.3 $1.00 17.6 $1.22 21.0 $0.80
Wash., DC 15.6 $1.06 20.2 $0.95 11.7 $1.42 19.5 $1.34
Miami 15.7 $1.53 19.4 $1.36 24.4 $1.75 18.1 $1.48
Baltimore 27.5 $0.50 29.1 $0.54 31.0 $0.46 18.1 $0.60
NR NR
Boston 27.8 $0.87 29.4 $0.88 18.2 $1.63 17.0 $1.37
1
In 2005, SA rather than Mexican heroin emerged for the first time as the predominant form of heroin in St. Louis. However, in 2006, Mexican
heroin reestablished itself as the predominant form. In 2007, SA heroin was again the predominant form purchased in St. Louis. Therefore,
while data are reported for St. Louis in both SA heroin and Mexican heroin tables (tables 5 and 6), only St. Louis SA heroin purchases are
discussed in the text.
2
NR = Not reported by the <strong>CEWG</strong> area representative.
SOURCE: DEA, 2007 HDMP Drug Intelligence <strong>Report</strong>, published November 2008
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Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, <strong>January</strong> 20<strong>09</strong>