New York City Drug Trends: Manhattan

According to the most recent findings from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.82% of New York residents reported the use of illicit drugs in the past month. This was 1% higher than the national average of 8.82%. Regarding these percentages, 3.7% of New York residents reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana, while the national average was slightly lower at 3.6%. The NYC’s drug trend is taking over Manhattan.

Drug-induced deaths in New York City were at 9.2 per 100,000 people. This was lower than the national average of 12.8 per 100,000.

NYC’s Drug Use Trends Include:

• Cocaine – Cocaine has remained a major problem in New York City, but indicators have been mixed in the reporting period of 2012, when cocaine treatment admissions declined. They hit the lowest level they have in two decades, but clients in treatment had a primary, secondary, or tertiary problem with cocaine before. Cocaine ranks second behind marijuana among reports.

• Heroin – Heroin has also remained a major problem in New York. New York City has been a major center for heroin activity. New York City is considered one of the most infamous heroin markets in the country and acts as a distribution center. Heroin is the most commonly cited drug among primary drug treatment admissions in New York. Primary heroin treatments increased to 44% in the reporting period. A detailed overview of heroin trends in New York City can be found here.

• Marijuana – Marijuana remained at a high level. One-half of male arrestees tested positive for marijuana, and more treatment admissions had a primary, secondary, or tertiary problem with marijuana before.

• Opioids/Benzodiazepines – According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, opioid death rates increased to 65%. Opioid analgesic prescriptions increased by 31% and oxycodone prescriptions increased by 73%. Prescription medication use and abuse are on the rise in New York City and nationwide.

• Methamphetamine – Methamphetamine indicators remained at a low level.

• PCP – PCP and Ketamine were among the top 10 drug reports identified by NFLIS laboratories. However, the rankings and percentages remained stable since the first half of 2012.

Data shows that cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are still the most commonly cited drugs in primary drug treatments in New York.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. This is reflected in the dramatic increase of opioid prescriptions and death rates in New York City. Prescription drug abuse has been classified as a national epidemic. There are currently many prescription drug monitoring programs and drug takeback programs.

Summary To Key Findings

Cocaine, heroin, and marijuana had a continuing predominance among drug users in New York City. The most significant finding was the increase of opioid analgesic use. The national epidemic of prescription drug abuse explains the increase in opioid-related deaths in New York City.

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