'BATTLE LINES REDRAWN' IN MAINE'S DRUG WAR

AUGUSTA -- The state Drug Task Force prosecuted fewer heroin and cocaine
cases during the past year, but saw more cases across the state involving
prescription narcotics, Attorney General Andrew Ketterer says.

"In the struggle against drug addiction, the battle lines are constantly
being redrawn," Ketterer said.

Overall, Drug Task Force attorneys prosecuted and completed 408 cases
between July 1999 and June 30. While the total is only five more than during
the same period last year, some new trends developed, according to
Ketterer's report.

Cumberland County had 17 heroin cases during the most recent 12-month
period, a sharp drop from 28 last year.

Androscoggin County had fewer cases involving crack cocaine, as the number
dropped from 22 to 15. For years, crack cases have been mostly confined to
the Lewiston area in Androscoggin.

But at the same time, the number of crack cases was up sharply from four to
11 in Cumberland County. Heroin showed a bigger presence in Penobscot
County, which had four heroin cases, twice as many as during the previous
year.

Statewide, there's been a significant increase in the number of cases
involving the "club drug" ecstasy, a hallucinogenic form of methamphetamine,
with seven reported in the past year. No cases are cited for the previous
year.

The number of cases involving use and sale of prescription narcotic drugs
rose from 48 to 70 between the two years. At the same time, the number of
marijuana cases dropped from 162 to 148.

Statewide, the number of heroin cases dropped from 51 to 41, while combined
figures for crack and cocaine show the total dropping from 125 to 117.

Ketterer's report underscored some strong links between age groups and the
types of drugs preferred.

Users 30 and under tended to become involved with hallucinogenic drugs like
ecstasy and LSD, and heroin.

Users over 30 were more likely to use marijuana, powder and crack cocaine
and illegally diverted prescription pills.