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editor@usatoday.com

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Regionbyregion look at drug consumption and production

United States and Canada

Cocaine use among young Americans rose from 0.3% of the
population in 1994 to 0.8% in 1995. Cocaine use overall leveled
off at 1.4 million people using it on a monthly basis. LSD use
among the young increased from 1.1% of the population in 1994 to
1.7% in 1995. Heroin use is growing with about 200,000 abusers in
1995, "significantly higher" than in 1994. Marijuana growing,
both in the United States and Canada, is increasing.

Europe

Cocaine and heroin use is declining, but trafficking in synthetic
drugs and the cultivation of marijuana is growing. Intravenous
drug use in increasing in Eastern Europe and former Soviet
republics in Europe, spreading the AIDS virus. The use and
manufacturing of amphetamines is growing across the continent, as
is the use of ecstasy and LSD.

South America

The continent remains the only supplier of cocaine to the United
States and Europe. Colombia has emerged as the main supplier of
heroin to the United States.

Asia

Laboratories in border areas between China, Laos, Myanmar and
Thailand supply most of the world's heroin. Opium use is
diminishing in several southeast Asian countries, but heroin
abuse is increasing. Increased intravenous drug use is spreading
the AIDS virus. In South Asia, opium is being supplanted by
heroin and buprenorphine, a potent synthetic drug manufactured in
India.

Africa

The continent is being used for the transshipment of large
amounts of Asian heroin and South American cocaine to Europe. The
use of crack cocaine is on the rise.

Australia and New Zealand

Marijuana is the most widely abused drug. Australian government
statistics show 15% of men and 7% of women smoke marijuana every
week.

By The Associated Press
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