Drug Abuse in Detroit, Wayne County, and Michigan: June 2013
Cynthia L. Arfken, Ph.D.
Summary of Key Findings for 2012 Reporting Period:
- There was a differing profile for Detroit when compared with the rest of the State of Michigan
- There were no major changes in indicators when compared with the previous year’s report.
Cocaine
Proportions of primary cocaine treatment admissions declined slightly to 15.5 percent of Detroit publicly funded admissions in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2013, compared with 16.6 percent for FY 2012. The proportion for crack cocaine also declined slightly, from 91.4 to 90 percent. For the rest of the State, the proportion of primary cocaine treatment admissions declined slightly, to 6 percent in the first half of FY 2013 from 6.8 percent in FY 2012. The proportion of the cocaine admissions for crack cocaine also declined, from 71.5 to 67.2 percent between FY 2012 and the first half of FY 2013. Of the total primary cocaine admissions in Detroit, 66.7 percent were male; 92.9 percent were African-American; and 88.4 percent were older than 35. Cocaine accounted for the second highest percentage of drug reports among drug items seized and analyzed by National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) laboratories for both Wayne County and the State of Michigan for 2012.
Heroin
In the first half of FY 2013, primary heroin treatment admissions decreased to 30.7 percent of Detroit publicly funded admissions, compared with 34.5 percent for FY 2012. Of the heroin admissions, 63.6 percent were male; 79.5 percent were African-American; and 85.8 percent were older than 35. In Detroit, White clients had a lower mean age and were more likely to inject heroin than African-American clients: 38.8 versus 53.2 years, respectively, and 76.5 versus 33 percent, respectively. In the rest of the State, White clients also had a lower mean age and were more likely to inject heroin than African-American clients: 30.7 versus 47.5 years, respectively, and 87.9 versus 51.5 percent, respectively. In Michigan, clients younger than 30 constituted 19.6 percent of heroin admissions in calendar year (CY) 2003; this proportion increased to 41.1 percent in CY 2012. Heroin accounted for the third highest percentage of drug reports identified among drug items seized and analyzed in NLFIS laboratories in Wayne County and the State of Michigan for 2012.
Opioids
In the first half of FY 2013, primary opioid treatment admissions were stable at 3 percent of Detroit publicly funded admissions, compared with 3 percent for FY 2012. In contrast, the proportion for the rest of the State’s publicly funded admissions reporting primary opioid abuse was 15.2 percent in first half of FY 2013, compared with 16.2 percent in FY 2012. In Michigan, clients younger than 30 constituted 38.8 percent of opioid admissions in CY 2003; this proportion increased to 48.1 percent in CY 2012. Treatment admissions for opioids or heroin accounted for 33.7 percent in Detroit and 34.1 percent in the rest of the State of Michigan.
Marijuana
Treatment admissions for marijuana increased to 18.2 percent of the publicly funded admissions during the first half of FY 2013, compared with 13.8 percent in FY 2012. Of the marijuana admissions, 61.1 percent were male; 92.7 percent were African-American; and 20.9 percent were younger than 18. Marijuana accounted for the highest percentage of drug reports among drug items seized and analyzed by NFLIS laboratories in Wayne County and the State.