KING COUNTY, WA - A report issued by Public Health - Seattle & King County today indicates that heroin continues to be the drug with the largest impact on area residents. Additionally, cocaine use locally has shown resurgence, while methamphetamine and marijuana use remained stable. The report also includes a special section on club drugs.
To read the full December 2000 Drug Trends Report, visit Public Health's website at www.metrokc.gov/health/subabuse.
"Let's keep in sight that we're dealing with more than statistics," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Drug users are citizens from all walks of life, and we need to continue to advance in our prevention and treatment efforts."
"There is no way we can be satisfied with these results," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Heroin use has stabilized at high levels that we need to decrease. Also, a new concern is the resurgence in cocaine use, which follows several years of decline."
Key findings from the December 2000 Drug Trends report include:
- Heroin use and heroin-related deaths have stabilized at high levels.
- Cocaine use, as well as cocaine-related deaths, is rising.
- Marijuana use remains unchanged.
- Methamphetamine use appears stable in King County, but it is on an upward trend in other, more rural, areas of Washington State.
The December 2000 Drug Trends Report also includes a special report on club drugs.
"We should pay more attention to club drugs -- hallucinogens and inhalants -- that appear to be especially prevalent among adolescents and young adults in the dance party and nightclub scenes," said Plough.
Key findings on club drugs include:
- A recent study conducted in a local drug treatment program revealed that 30% of patients aged 14 to 24 reported using MDMA ("ecstasy") in the last six months.
- The use of these drugs (like MDMA, LSD and PCP, among others) is present not only in dance parties and club scenes, but also in other recreational and social settings.
- Many users tend to experiment or use a variety of club drugs in combination.
Public Health takes three approaches to address drug-use problems:
- Prevention, for example, providing education and early intervention for children and youth to keep them from trying heroin and other drugs.
- Harm reduction, for example, providing needle exchange services for heroin users to help them avoid HIV and other infections and to facilitate entry into drug treatment programs.
- Treatment, for example, making treatment for heroin addicts more accessible through "Mobile Methadone" services (per a grant from the federal government).
New Task Force addresses latest challenges with heroin use:
Given the high levels of heroin use and the impact on area residents, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell and King County Executive Sims convened a Heroin Task Force composed of community leaders and experts, elected officials, and individuals from the affected population. Currently, this Task force is in the process of reviewing the heroin problem and formulating strategies of education and advocacy. This Task Force will soon release a report and its recommendations to the public.
