Heroin Addiction Trends
MARK H. GREENE M.D.1, and
ROBERT L. DUPONT M.D.2
1 Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Center for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Atlanta, Ga.
2 Administrator, Narcotics Treatment Administration, Department of Human Resources, Government of the District of Columbia
Systematic observations made in Washington. D.C., documented the epidemic spread of heroin use and its subsequent decline. Major indicators supporting the contention of reduced heroin use include: 1) a stable year of peak heroin use among all treatment cohorts admitted since January 1971; 2) a marked reduction in deaths due to heroin overdose; 3) a steady decline in the number of urine tests positive for heroin among arrestees tested; 4) a sharp reduction in the annual number of narcotics arrests; 5) a sustained reduction in the demand for heroin addiction treatment; and 6) a significant increase in the mean age of identified heroin users.
