Address: 2900 Eastlake Ave E., Suite 310, Seattle, WA 98102
Website: http://www.unionrecord.com
Author: John Zebrowski
NOTE: A news site created by the striking workers of The Seattle
Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

ALL DRUG USE HAS LEVELED OFF, IT'S STILL TOO HIGH

Illegal drug use may have plateaued in the Seattle area, according to
a new report, but health officials say it is still too high.

After years of increases, followed by a slight drop, most illicit
drug use has leveled off, a new annual report by Public
Health-Seattle & King County says.

Cocaine and club drugs such as Ecstasy have increased slightly, the
report said. But heroin, which has been the biggest killer in the
past decade, continues to lead other drugs in mortality rate.

The study, which surveyed jails, treatment centers and hospitals,
found 82 heroin-related deaths in the county through September. Last
year, 111 died; 143 in 1998.

Alonzo Plough, director of public health, said this year's incomplete
numbers, although better, are still troubling.

"Even though it isn't getting worse, the numbers are still much
higher than they used to be," he said, adding that in the early
1990s, the average number of heroin deaths was in the 40s.
"Maintenance of a problem isn't enough."

During the same period, cocaine deaths have slowly risen, from 69 in
1998 to 76 last year. Plough said he doesn't fear a major spike in
cocaine use. Instead, it appears to be part of a cycle in which the
use of one drug rises, while others decline.

"What we need to do is break the cycles," he said.

To that end, the study recommends increasing drug-treatment programs
to help people quit and education campaigns to persuade them never to
start.

One class of drugs in which education appears to be particularly
lacking is Ecstasy and other club drugs - stimulants and
hallucinogens popular among the young. Although it's difficult to
measure the number of users, health and law-enforcement officials say
the growth has been dramatic.

A survey of area patients in treatment programs found 44 percent of
those under 25 have tried Ecstasy. But while there hasn't been a rash
of deaths, police officials said arrests are way up.

"A year ago, we didn't see much at all," said narcotics detective Lt.
Bob Peters. "Now, it's more and more."

Peters said there have been twice as many arrests in the past year.
The department is concentrating more resources on policing club
drugs, which could explain part of the increase.

Other drugs such as methamphetamine and marijuana, on the increase in
other parts of the country, show smaller increases here.

Instead, heroin continues to worry health officials the most. The
Northwest, from Portland to Vancouver, B.C., continues to have among
the highest heroin death rates in the country.

"It's still a major problem," said Plough, adding that the region has
two major heroin pipelines, from Mexico and Asia. "It's one that's
going to require major new approaches. Hopefully, there's the
political will to do it."