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Wednesday, July 23, 1997

Drug dealers marketing to younger, more affluent users

By JUAN B. ELIZONDO Jr. / Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - Drug dealers are moving to the suburbs, targeting sales to more affluent buyers with more purchasing power, according to a report released Tuesday.

James Hall, executive director of Miami's Up Front Drug Information Center and Jane Maxwell of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, released the report on drug trafficking and use at a conference sponsored by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

The report considered drug treatment, drug-related arrests and other information from the first quarter of 1983 to the first quarter of 1997.

Hall said the most disturbing trend is that lessons learned by older generations, like the dangers of LSD, cocaine and heroin, have been lost on younger Americans.

"Drug prevention and education is not a one-time fix," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The researchers said use of GHB, Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate, is growing. The depressant, used in combination with alcohol, gives a strong high and sedative effect. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to produce - and equally easy to botch, Hall said.

Few statistics are available about the drug because of its recent appearance. Federal drug officials say the sale of ingredients to make GHB continue to rise, according to the report.

"It's been associated in date rape and the club scene," Hall added.

The drug goes by the street names of "Grievous Bodily Harm," "Georgia Homeboy," "Liquid XTC" and "Fantasy." It is similar to Rohypnol, which is known as the date-rape drug.

The researchers said cocaine remains the No. 1 illegal drug used in Texas. The use of heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines also continued to rise.

The report cites cocaine-related admissions to publicly funded treatment centers at 35 percent for 1996 and the first quarter of 1997.

Heroin admissions to publicly funded treatment centers represented 14 percent of all admissions in the first three months this year. Marijuana use represented 8 percent of adult admissions in 1996 and 70 percent for juveniles in 1997.

Ms. Maxwell said younger generations must be taught the dangers of cocaine and other drugs that are regained popularity.

She said older generations were taught about dangers of the drugs in school, by public service announcements and other sources, including experience. She said such information has decreased.

As for drug marketing, both researchers said dealers have learned from the crack cocaine epidemic that marketing to an inner city, lower-income population leaves little room for sales growth.

They said dealers now are targeting sales of heroin and cocaine to younger, more affluent "yuppies." The idea is to hook people with more money and a better chance of maintaining their ability to make money, Hall said.

"How long someone can maintain a job and a heroin addiction is uncertain," he added.

Ms. Maxwell said the sales message is that casual, non-intravenous use is not addictive.

"Addiction happens in the brain," Hall countered. "It doesn't matter how it gets there." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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