Narcotics research, rehabilitation, and treatment. Hearings, Ninety ...

;;;;579and types of drugs that are being used by members of the general population ofNew York State. We believe this survey to be the first of its kind, and it waspartially supported by a grant provided by the New York State Office of CrimeControl Planning. The data was secured through interviews with 7,500 scientificallyselected representative persons. The report is the first of a series and constitutesan assessment of use for the total State. Subsequent reports willsubdivide the State into geographical regions.It should be noted that the numbers represent a projection of the more "stable"drug users, those with a fixed address, and consequently constitute minimums.Any one who has become personally and socially dysfunctional as a result ofdrug use, for example heroin street addicts, "speed freaks," et criteria, generallywere not available for interview. Thus, only those drug users with a place ofresidence or routine "at home" hours were located. In some cases these minimalfigures should be multiplied by three or four in order to project maximuminvolvement, for example heroin.In this connection, attention is invited especially to the "Epilogue" on page156 of the refKJrt beginning : "This study was not designed to determine theincidence of drug abuse in New York State. Methodologists and epidemiologistsresponsible for the survey design were in agreement that such a determinationwould require a more sophisticated interview schedule and more experiencedinterviewers than budget and time limitations permitted * * *" making clearthat this is fundamentally a survey of drug use and that the figures relating todrug abuse or the use of hard drugs undoubtedly understate the situation.I can summarize the data secured through the study as indicating, amongother things, that of the statewide population age 14 and above :1. Some 361,000 people use barbiturates on a regular basis (at least six timesper month ) and some 10 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with a legalprescription2. Some 187,000 people regularly use the nonbarbiturate sedative-hypnoticsfor example Doriden, Noludar, and some 15 percent of these obtain none of thesedrugswith a legal prescription ;3. Some 525,000 people regularly use the minor tranquilizers ; for example,Librium, Miltown, and some 5 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with alegal prescription4. Some 71,000 people regularly use the major tranquilizers ; for example, Thorazine,Mellaril, and some 5 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with a legalprescription5. Some 39,000 people regularly use the antidepressants ; for example, Tofranil,Elavil, and some 18 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with a legalprescription6. Some 110,000 people regularly use pep pills ; for example, Dexedrine. andsome 33 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with a legal prescription ;7. Some 222,000 people regularly use diet pills, usually containing amphetamines,and some 19 percent of these obtain none of these drugs with a legalprescription8. Some 17,000 people regularly use controlled narcotics other than heroinfor example, Demerol, morphine ; and some 12 percent of these obtain none ofthese drugs with a legal prescription ;9. Some 1,043,000 people have smoked marihuana during the past 6 months,and 487,000 of them do so on a regular basis (at least six times per month) :10. Some 203,000 people have used LSD during the past 6 months, and 45,000of them do so on a regular basis11. Some 111,000 persons have used methedrine (speed) during the past 6months, and 35,000 of them do so on a regular basis ;12. Some 64,000 persons have used heroin during the past 6 months, and 32,000of them do so on a regular basis : and13. Some 101,000 persons have used cocaine during the past 6 months, and6,000 of them do so on a regular basis.In addition to the data summarized above, the report contains an assessmentof the population's attitudes about drug use and drug users. General consensuswas elicited on the following items :Everyone should try drugs at least once to find out what they are like,90.3 percent disagreed.Addicts will do anything to get more drugs, 87.7 percent agreed.Drug addicts should be treated as sick people and not as criminals, 86.7'percent agreed.