cannabisnews.com: America's Drug Abuse Profile! America's Drug Abuse Profile! Posted by FoM on March 14, 1999 at 09:56:55 PT OVERALL TRENDSIn 1997, there were 13.9 million current users of any illicit drug in the total household population aged 12 and older, down from the peak year of 1979, when 25 million (or 14.1 percent of the population) abused illegal drugs. The 13.9 million number represents 6.4 percent of the total population and is statistically unchanged from 1996. Thirty-six percent aged twelve and older have used an illegal drug in their lifetime. Of these, more than 90 percent used either marijuana or hashish and approximately 30 percent tried cocaine. There are an estimated 4 million chronic drug users in America: 3.6 million chronic cocaine users (primarily crack cocaine) and 810,000 chronic heroin users. JUVENILE TRENDSDrug use among 12-17 year olds declined slightly in 1997 and 1998. Between 1992 and 1996, it had more than doubled among 8th graders, doubled among 10th graders, increased by 50 percent among 12th graders. Use of inhalants declined among 8th graders from 5.6 percent in 1997 to 4.8 percent in 1998. In 1998 alcohol use decreased among 10th graders, and remained stable among 8th graders and 12th graders, albeit at unacceptably high levels. Past-month use of cigarettes slightly declined among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 1997 to 1998. However, every day more than 6,000 people aged eighteen or younger try their first cigarette and more than 3,000 people aged eighteen or younger become daily smokers. DRUG AVAILABILITYIn 1997, an estimated 289 metric tons (MTs) of cocaine were available in the U.S., the lowest amount since the 1980s and far below the peak of 529 MTs in 1992. 145 MTs of cocaine were seized en route to the U.S. in 1998. Marijuana remains readily available. Information about heroin price and purity is imprecise. In 1998 the average retail price for a pure gram of heroin was approximately $1,799; the wholesale price was $318. These prices were significantly lower than in 1981, when the retail price per gram was estimated to be $3,115 and the wholesale price $1,194. The average purity for retail heroin in 1998 was 25 percent, much higher than the1991 average of 19 percent. Methamphetamine remains the most prevalent synthetic drug. CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSEDrug-related deaths climbed throughout the 1990s but have leveled off at about 9,300. Drug-related medical emergencies remain near historic highs but remained statistically constant, with 514,347 episodes in 1996 and 527,058 in 1997. Illegal drugs cost our society approximately $110 billion each year. DRUGS AND CRIMEMore than 60 percent of adult male arrests tested positive for drugs in twenty major cities in 1997. Drug offenders account for 25 percent of the growth in the state prison population and 72 percent of the growth in the federal prison population since 1990. DRUGS AND THE WORKPLACE6.7 million current illegal drug users were employed full-time in 1997. Another 1.6 million current users worked part-time. Drug abuse is twice as prevalent among the unemployed compared to those employed full-time. http://www.hassela.com/hnn.htm© Hassela Nordic Network Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Owen Moore on February 02, 2000 at 12:54:15 PT: 4th Amendment Rights I just witnessed a Frontline episode on my local Public Television station and was alarmed to find that In, Indiana authorities keep a helicopter in the air, equiped with heat sensitive tracking, to look for the presence of excessive heat in peoples homes a.k.a. (to the authorities) “Grow Lights.” Seems to me that this is unconstitutional and I would like to know what I can do to help stop the erosion of the now apparently meaningless 4th Ammendment. For the record I don’t use or advocate use of “illegal” drugs. It’s no longer a “War on drugs” it’s a war on our liberty.Can something be done? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Hank on December 02, 1999 at 09:29:36 PT: This site rules! I think this site is pretty cool. I'd rather listen to you guys instead of CNN or ABC News at 9! Hank's Page [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: