ONDCP Seal
 PolicyPolicy

Chapter II (continued)

8. Other Illicit Substances

Overall Usage — The 1999 MTF reports that use of hallucinogens, LSD, and PCP remained stable. The 1998 NHSDA reports no major changes in the prevalence of non-medical use of psychotherapeutics for adolescents aged twelve and older between 1997 and 1998. The rate of current hallucinogens use did not change significantly between 1997 and 1998 (0.8 percent versus 0.7 percent, respectively). There were an estimated 1.1 million new hallucinogen users in 1997, nearly twice the annual average during the 1980s. Data are not available to describe emerging threats from other illicit substances like ketamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), and rohypnol. Nevertheless, ethnographers continue to report "cafeteria use"* of hallucinogenic or psycho-sedative drugs like ketamine, LSD, and GHB. The increasing popularity of "raves" within the dance culture has sparked a resurgence of designer drugs.

Steroid use is becoming more prevalent among adolescents. The repercussions of steroid use are enormous. Among teens, steroid use can lead to an untimely halting of growth due to premature skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes. All steroid users risk liver tumors, high blood pressure, severe acne, and trembling. Many of these effects are irreversible.88

Use among youth — The 1999 MTF reports past-year use of rohypnol among eighth graders decreased from 0.8 percent in 1998 to 0.5 percent in 1999 - a statistically significant change. Past-year use of rohypnol for both tenth and twelfth graders was 1.0 percent in 1999 — a statistically insignificant change from 1998. Past-year use of steroids increased from 1.2 percent in 1998 to 1.7 percent in 1999 for both eighth and tenth graders. Past-month use still remains under 1 percent for eighth and tenth graders, in spite of increases in 1999 (e.g., 0.5 percent in 1998 to 0.7 percent in 1999). Lifetime use of steroids increased among tenth graders from two percent in 1998 to 2.7 percent in 1999.89

Steroids and Our Youth
Trends in Lifetime Use

Chart

Source: 1999 Monitoring the Future Study

Availability — The Community Epidemiology Working Group reports that designer drugs in most parts of the country are easily obtainable and used primarily by adolescents and young adults at clubs, raves, and concerts.90 GBL and 1,4-butanediol (both chemical precursors to GHB) are easily obtainable over the Internet. Individuals seeking illicit substances can also exploit Internet sites specializing in the sale of veterinary pharmaceuticals and prescription medications.

Controlled Substances Diversion — Attention must be paid to the misuse of a great variety of pharmaceuticals, narcotics, depressants, and stimulants. Manufactured in the United States and overseas to meet legitimate medical needs, these drugs are subject to diversion into the illicit trade.91 Of the 2.4 billion prescriptions written in 1998, approximately 254 million were for controlled substances. An unknown quantity is diverted into illicit traffic, but legally controlled substances account for over 30 percent of all reported deaths and injuries associated with drug abuse.92 In 1999, the United States Customs Service seized 9,275 packages containing prescription drugs — about 4.5 times as many as in 1998. The number of pills and tablets impounded by the Customs Service jumped to 1.9 million from 760,720 in 1998.93 Likewise, DEA arrests for pharmaceutical diversions increased to 701 in 1999 from 410 in fiscal year 1998.94

The availability of "prescription-free pharmaceuticals" via the Internet and overseas pharmacies represents an emerging challenge for the United States.95 This challenge has been exacerbated by Internet pharmacies shipping medications via "express consignment operators" (ECO; i.e. FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) rather than the U.S. Postal Service. USCS prescription drug seizures from ECOs jumped from 294 in fiscal year 1998 to 518 in fiscal year 1999.

Precursor Chemicals — Of all the major drugs of abuse, only marijuana is available as a natural, harvested product. The others must be manufactured using various chemicals and techniques. Illegal drug trafficking is heavily dependent on the availability of commodities from legitimate sources in order to obtain the substances required for criminal production or synthesis.96 Traffickers are able to obtain chemicals in large quantities at relatively low cost as a result of ignorance, indifference, or collusion by pharmaceutical distributors and international brokers.97 An intensive training program conducted by the DEA's Office of Diversion Control in 1997 and 1998 increased the number and level of chemical diversion investigations in 1999. To address the problem of chemical diversion, various legislative measures, cooperative law-enforcement programs, and multilateral agreements have been enacted.

* Denotes the proclivity to consume any readily available drug. Young people often take mood-altering pills or consume drugged drinks in night clubs without knowing what the drug is or the dangers posed by its use, alone or in combination with alcohol and other drugs.