NCJ Number
47561
Date Published
1978
Length
329 pages
Annotation
THE TRENDS IN VARIOUS INDICATORS OF HEROIN USE IN NEW YORK STATE ARE ANALYZED TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE STATE'S DRUG AND SENTENCING LAWS ENACTED IN 1973.
Abstract
THE 1973 LAWS INCREASED THE PENALTIES FOR MANY CRIMES INVOLVING THE SALE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND WERE INTENDED TO REDUCE THE EXTENT OF ILLICIT DRUG USE AND THE NUMBER OF STREET CRIMES COMMITTED BY USERS. TRENDS IN NEW YORK WERE COMPARED WITH THOSE IN OTHER CITIES AND STATES ON THE EAST COAST. THE INDICATORS USED IN THE STUDY WERE BASED ON THOSE USED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, AND INCLUDED ANALYSES OF NARCOTICS-RELATED DEATHS, SERUM HEPATITIS CASES, EMERGENCY ROOM REPORTS OF NARCOTICS CASES, TREATMENT PROGRAM ADMISSIONS, HEROIN PURITY, AND PROPERTY CRIME COMPLAINTS. THE METHODS USED TO ANALYZE THESE TRENDS INCLUDED AN EXAMINATION OF EACH OF THE INDICATORS, A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE RESULTS TO IDENTIFY ANY GENERAL TRENDS WITHIN A JURISDICTION, AND COMPARING NEW YORK CITY AND STATE WITH OTHER AREAS ON THE EAST COAST. THE RESULTS OF EACH OF THESE ANALYSES ARE PRESENTED ALONG WITH TABLES AND GRAPHS OF DATA FROM EACH. THE GENERAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STUDY ARE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OR DECREASE IN NARCOTICS USE SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE 1973 LAWS. A CONSISTENCY AMONG INDICATORS SUPPORTS THIS CONCLUSION. IN A DIRECT COMPARISON WITH WASHINGTON, D.C., IT WAS FOUND THAT HEROIN USE IN WASHINGTON HAS INCREASED STEADILY SINCE 1973, WHILE IT HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE IN NEW YORK CITY. THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO THE LAWS IN NEW YORK, BUT COULD ALSO SIMPLY REFLECT MARKET CONDITIONS. STATEWIDE TRENDS DO NOT SHOW ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AS A RESULT OF THE 1973 DRUG LAWS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN INFORMATION ON THE 1973 NEW YORK STATE DRUG LAW AND A GLOSSARY OF TERMS.