Update on illicit drug use in Los Angeles County

Overall, drug use in Las Angeles County remains stable, with some continued rise in marijuana and methamphetamine treatment and arrestee data. Estimated cocaine emergency department (ED) mentions dropped from 2,962 in the second half of 1996 to 2,335 in the first half of 1997. Heroin mentions also dropped (from 1,570 to 1,379), while marijuana mentions were steady (at 1,101 and 1,104, respectively) over the same time period. The fetal number of treatment admissions rose from 10,984 at the end of 1997 to 12,358 in the second quarter of 1998. During that same quarter, primary heroin admissions dropped to 48 percent of the total, and methamphetamine admissions remained constant at nearly 8 percent. Arrestee data showed an increase in cocaine-positive findings (44 percent)for adult males during the first three quarters of 1998 and a continued increase in marijuana positives (28 percent). Among female arrestees, cocaine use declined, but marijuana and methamphetamine use increased (21 percent and 14 percent, respectively) during the same period. During the first part of 1998, overall positive findings for juvenile male arrestees climbed to 64 percent, due almost entirely to marijuana use (52 percent). As of September 30, 1998, 38,067 cumulative adult AIDS cases and 24,269 deaths were reported in Los Angeles County. The percentage of cases involving exposure through injecting drug use remained stable at 7 percent.