NCJ Number
191351
Date Published
March 2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet presents data on current drug use estimates, drug control efforts of law enforcement agencies, current and past Federal drug control budgets, drug use in correctional facilities, and estimates of drug availability.
Abstract
According to the report, the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that a total of 15.9 million American ages 12 and older reported using an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey. Most respondents reported using marijuana, followed by cocaine, and then hallucinogens. Additionally, preliminary data estimates that 308,558 people visited an emergency room for drug-related purposes during the period from January to June 2002. Drug-related deaths within 43 metropolitan areas ranged from a low of 1 in Fargo, ND, and Sioux Falls, SD, to a high of 1,192 in Los Angeles, CA. Data from arrestees and offenders indicate that among State prisoners due to be released by the end of 1999, 83.9 percent were using drugs or alcohol at the time of their arrest, 58.8 percent had used drugs during the month prior to their arrest, and 20.9 percent had committed their offense to get money for drugs. Twenty-eight percent of the 115,589 offenders arrested by Federal law enforcement agencies in 2000 were arrested for drug-related offenses. During the period 1975 to 2001, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency seized 16,054 illegal drug laboratories, 13,931 of which were methamphetamine laboratories. Finally, the fact sheet reports that Federal spending for drug control programs increased from 1.5 billion in 1981 to 18.8 billion in 2002.