67% OF THOSE ARRESTED USE DRUGS, STUDY SHOWS

A study indicates two-thirds of people arrested in Mecklenburg County have
one thing in common: They're drug users.

Results of the study, to be released today, show Charlotte-Mecklenburg is
still largely a two-drug market -- cocaine and marijuana. But researchers
also note an increase in heroin and methamphetamine use among people
arrested during the 12 months beginning in September 2000.

Of those screened during the study and charged with assault with a deadly
weapon, assault on a female, breaking and entering or motor vehicle theft,
all tested positive for drugs.

Officials say the study also shows police strategies may be driving drug
traffickers out of certain areas of Charlotte.

Law enforcement officials say the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program,
or ADAM, provides the most accurate picture ever of what types of drugs
affect crime in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The results also might prepare
police for what types of drugs are coming to Charlotte.

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph said results are also helping
officials plan drug-treatment programs.

"If we can tell what they're taking, then we can cater our programs toward
their particular needs," Pendergraph said.

Results of the study have been sent to law enforcement agencies near
Charlotte, including police and deputies in Gaston, York and Cabarrus
counties, he said.

The Sheriff's Office has participated in the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring
program since fall 2000. It's the only one of its kind in the Carolinas.
More than 35 cities nationwide, including Atlanta, New York, Washington and
Chicago, participate in the program.

About 80 percent of the people arrested and screened in New York over the
same time period tested positive for at least one drug -- the highest among
the ADAM test sites. Anchorage was the lowest at 52 percent. About 70
percent of those screened in Atlanta tested positive. About 67 percent
tested positive in Mecklenburg.

The Mecklenburg numbers are based on voluntary drug screenings of 516
arrestees. Researchers said about 88 percent of all suspects approached
cooperated with the study. They are males ages 16 and over, charged with
offenses ranging from traffic violations to murder. The study did not
screen for alcohol.

Of those testing positive for one drug in Mecklenburg, 62 percent used
marijuana only. About 34 percent of those using only one drug tested
positive for cocaine, which includes crack and powder cocaine. About 24
percent tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine.

About 63 percent of whites tested positive for at least one drug, compared
to 75 percent of blacks and 24 percent of Hispanics, the study showed.

Results show a slight increase in crack and heroin use among whites and an
increase in powder cocaine use among blacks. More whites used crack than
blacks.

Marijuana use was more common among younger people, and cocaine was the
drug of choice among those 30 and older, results show.

Officials say the majority of suspects commit crimes to get money to buy
drugs or to protect drug turf.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say study results were not surprising, though
like ADAM researchers, they were concerned with the increase in heroin use.

"It's still a small market, but it's a drug we're paying close attention to
because the addictions are so severe," said Maj. K.D. Williams, who
supervises the special investigations bureau, including the vice and
narcotics units. "We've had some success in the past building federal cases
against heroin traffickers, but you can still buy it in certain areas."

Heroin, often thought of as an intravenous drug, is increasingly snorted or
smoked, increasing the likelihood that users will experiment with the drug,
he said. The drug has increased in purity over the last several years and
has been blamed for fatal overdoses in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Williams added.

The study shows heroin is used most frequently by those 21 and over, but
limited to just under 2 percent of those screened.

During most of the yearlong study, users said police activity -- increased
patrols, for example -- did not affect their decision to buy drugs. They
could buy whatever they wanted, according to interviews by ADAM researchers.

But, between June and September last year, their responses changed. Police
presence deterred a significant number of drug buyers.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said there's no definitive way to explain why
more buyers are deterred. Still, police targeted several areas, including
Belmont and Grier Heights. They conducted street-buy campaigns in which
undercover officers bought drugs from dealers.

Police say the effort resulted in dozens of federal indictments, scaring
many dealers off the street. When asked if the campaign simply moved
dealers to other parts of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Williams said:

"Yeah, it moved them to jail."