New York

• Preliminary data for 2002 shows that 81.0% of adult male arrestees and 61.1% of adult female arrestees in New York City tested positive for at least one of the following drugs at arrest: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or methamphetamine.
• Additional New York City arrestee drug use data for 2002 shows that 56.5% of adult male and 51.1% of adult female arrestees used marijuana within the past year. Among those reporting past year marijuana use, the average number of days the drug was used in the past month was 12.2 days for male arrestees and 10.7 days for female arrestees.
• Of the 21,276 cocaine-related arrests in New York City from January to October 2001, 83% involved crack cocaine.

Drugs

• Following September 11, 2001, the availability of illegal drugs, particularly heroin, declined in New York City, while demand increased. Prices for heroin, crack, powder cocaine, and marijuana remained level but quantities of the drugs sold per sale declined. Increases in security/police activity disrupted the flow of drugs from the suppliers to dealers to the users.
• Cocaine: Cooking crack cocaine with diazepam and smoking crack with PCP have been reported in New York City. According to the DEA, powder cocaine sells for $900-$950 per ounce and $22,000-$30,000 per kilogram. Crack purity is approximately 58%. Crack continues to represent the lowest priced drug per package. The DEA reports that crack sells for $1,000-$1,500 per ounce and $27-$45 per gram in New York City.
• Heroin: Pulse Check sources indicate that heroin is often mixed with adulterants, including rat poison, powdered milk, baking soda, and coffee creamer. South American, Southeast Asian, and Southwest Asian heroin are available in NYC. The NYC Street Studies Unit (SSU) reports that the supply of heroin has decreased in certain areas. While bags of heroin in the areas still cost $10 per bag and the quality did not change, there was less heroin contained in the bags. Some addicts expressed concern to SSU that anthrax may be used to contaminate their drugs. Some dealers dilute heroin with Ambien (zolpidem) or other sleep medications. Heroin in New York City can be up to 80-90% pure and sells for $2,000 per ounce. A gram of heroin sells for approximately $60-$74. The average heroin purity in New York City during 2001 was 56%. This has decreased from 62.9% in 2000.
• Marijuana: Marijuana sells for $10-$50 per bag, $10 per hydroponic joint, and $15 per cigar or blunt. Organic (“purple haze”) and hydroponic (“hydro”) marijuana sell for $700- $800 per ounce. “Hydro” has been sold mixed with a pellet of dark brown marijuana, in a combination called “beef and broccoli,” for $20 per bag. Marijuana is sometimes dipped in water that was used to cook crack cocaine, creating a mixture called “elo,” which sells for approximately $10 per bag. Many New York City marijuana sellers who have low-grade marijuana mix it with other substances to enhance or expand it. The sellers report that with many new users, especially youth, it is easy to sell low-grade adulterated marijuana and pass it off as “good stuff.” The purity of marijuana found in New York City increased from Fall 2001 to Spring 2002.
• Methamphetamine: There is increasing evidence that Methamphetamine use is spreading to New York City, particularly among the gay male population. Meth is available in the city in powder, pill, and liquid forms, with pills being the most popular.
• Club Drugs: MDMA has become an established drug of choice in New York City. Although usually sold in pill form, MDMA is also sold in powder form with cocaine HCl and then smoked in a blunt. Throughout the city, MDMA is mixed with heroin in a combination known as “wombstone.” Some dealers sell Excedrin pills as ecstasy because the pills have an E in the center and a split down the back of the pill. Ecstasy pills sell for $15-$25 on the street. GHB and Rohypnol are reported to be widely available in the state of New York. Ketamine sells for $20 per dose in New York City. PCP is readily available in certain areas of the city, particularly in Harlem where it sells for $10 per bag.
• Other Drugs: Following September 11, 2001, the use of benzodiazepines increased 23%, antidepressant use increased 18%, and the use of sleep aids increased 26%. The diversion of prescription drugs, including medications for HIV infection, continues to occur. The three most popular diverted substances are Xanax ($2-$5 per pill), Catapres ($1-$2 per pill), and Elavil ($1-$2 per pill). According to SSU, most of the locations where pills are sold are within two blocks of treatment facilities.

Across the United States, drug use is a cause for concern. For more and more individuals, drug use (including hard drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin) is becoming a part of their daily lives. This raises concern that the country may be entering a period of drug use unseen since the '70s.

This increase in drug use affects not only the drug user, but also their family and friends. They suffer along with the drug addict through their ups, downs, sobriety, and intoxication. This can be very stressful for those who care about an individual with a drug addiction.

The physical and physiological health of a person who has a drug addiction is also a concern. Drug use can lead to health problems ranging from heart trouble to memory loss. These issues may have long term consequences, and at times may be deadly. Drug overdose is one such trend that is monitored across the United States. Sadly, many people die each year due to an overdose of drugs or alcohol.

Crime is also a factor when it comes to drug addiction. Many find they must spend more and more money to meet the needs of their drug addiction. This can lead to robbery, prostitution, scams and so on. Often times, those who are taken to jail are either intoxicated at the time of their arrest or are committing a crime to support their drug habit.

Although drug trends throughout the United States vary year to year, drugs are always a problem. Even when statistics are low for drug abuse, drug related crime, and drug treatment admissions, it is important to remember that it is still a cause for concern. Monitoring drug trends helps in determining where there are high amounts of drug use and how these areas may correlate with crime, addiction treatment, and health care.

This site, United States Drug Trends, will keep you informed of the current drug trends taking place throughout the United States. Use this site to educate yourself and increase your awareness of what is happening in the state you live in.