N.J. SOUNDS AN ALARM ON HEROIN

A poll showing higher-than-average use by young adults prompts first
drug-clinic expansion in 10 years.

New Jersey plans to expand its heroin-treatment clinics for the first
time in a decade after finding that 18- to 25-year-olds are using the
drug more than young adults in other states, according to data
released yesterday from a statewide survey.

The 2003 New Jersey Household Survey on Drug Use and Health shows
that 5 percent of state residents 18 to 25 reported using heroin at
least once in their lives, compared with 2 percent of Americans in
that age group overall.

"We have the best and cheapest heroin in the country," said Carolann
Kane-Cavaiola, assistant commissioner of the Division of Addiction
Services. "It's easy to get, and easy to get high."

New Jersey is a gateway to other states because of its ports and
major highways, Kane-Cavaiola said, and its purity allows users to
smoke or snort it rather than inject it, drawing a wider range of
users. The drug also is cheaper than methamphetamine, which is
ravaging cities and towns nationwide.

The Division of Addiction Services has 36 licensed methadone clinics
statewide to treat heroin addiction, and plans to open two more by
the end of the year in Ocean and Gloucester Counties. The clinics
should be able to serve about 400 people a year, and cost about
$350,000 to operate.

"When you look at the data, it shows there is a high need not matched
by services in those two counties," said Department of Human Services
Commissioner James M. Davy.

Gloucester County had the largest proportion of residents of any
county meeting the criteria for drug addiction, 4.3 percent. The
county also had the second-highest rate of adults' using illegal
drugs at least once in the previous year, 8.6 percent. Not all the
drug use or addiction was to heroin.

Drug and alcohol abuse overall among 18- to 25-year-olds was
comparable with the national average, with about 22 percent reporting
they were dependent in the last year. But those with drug problems in
New Jersey were less likely to receive treatment than their
counterparts nationally, 7.7 percent versus 10.7 percent.

Almost 10 percent of New Jersey residents 26 or older admitted
abusing drugs or alcohol, while the national rate was 7.3 percent.
And among residents dependent on drugs, 8.9 percent received
treatment in the previous year, compared with 26.9 percent of other Americans.

"There is still much to do," said Davy, the DHS commissioner. "Eighty
percent of all DYFS-involved families we see have some sort of
substance abuse at the root of the problem. We need to strengthen the
treatment and prevention programs."

Marijuana was the most heavily abused drug statewide, with 30 percent
of adults of all ages reporting having used it at least once.

The New Jersey Household Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted
by the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Center for Public Interest
Polling, at Rutgers University.

Researchers interviewed 14,660 adults statewide. The report noted
that the number of adults addicted to drugs may be higher than
reported because of reluctance to admit illegal activity.