Pubdate: Thu, 04 Dec 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Yvonne Wenger

CITY RAISES ESTIMATE OF NUMBER OF HEROIN USERS

Task Force Puts Total at 19,000, Up From 11,000, Based on National Data

Baltimore officials have again adjusted the estimated number of 
heroin users in the city - to nearly 19,000, up from11,000.

The new figure comes from a task force Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake 
appointed in October to study heroin use and treatment, and is based 
on data from a national survey of drug use.

"Our goal here is for the task force is to come up with a better 
understanding of who needs treatment, who's trying to get it and 
who's not getting it. That's the core," said Bernard McBride, 
president of Behavioral Health System Baltimore and co-chairman of 
the task force.

The number of heroin users in Baltimore has been the subject of 
significant debate. For years, 60,000 was the figure widely 
circulated, but city health officials believe that was much too high. 
Two years ago, they settled on an estimate of 11,000 as a more 
accurate reflection.

When the members of the task force dug deeper, McBride said, they 
found that number probably wasn't right either.

The new figure is based on 2012 data from the National Survey of Drug 
Use and Health for the number of people in Baltimore who use illegal 
drugs other than marijuana. The group estimated that about half of 
them are heroin users. That is based on the fact that about half the 
people who are admitted to publicly funded drug treatment programs 
are heroin users. The group added to that an estimate for substance 
abusers among Baltimore's homeless population.

The analysis put the number of heroin users each month at about 
9,500. The task force estimate for the annual number of users is 
about double that, based on national standards. McBride said about 
half of those who use heroin do so casually or only in social 
settings. Some switch back and forth between other drugs, such as 
illegal use of oxycodone.

The mayor gave the task force until next summer to complete its work. 
Besides coming up with the new estimate, the 50-member group is 
charged with recommending ways to provide better access to treatment 
and to promote better relations with communities where heroin detox 
clinics are located.

Rawlings-Blake said she wants to look at the heroin problem 
holistically to develop a comprehensive policy.

"The foundation of that policy has to be an accurate accounting of 
exactly how many city residents are struggling with heroin 
addiction," she said in a statement.

The national survey found in 2012 that about 669,000 Americans had 
used heroin in the previous year.

People who need help with an addiction should call 410-637-1900.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom