Læknaneminn - 01.04.1997, Page 96

Peter Duesberg and David Rasnick
Fig. 2. The American Drug Epidemic
Year
the number of regular cocaine users had reached 3.6
million, with 28 million who had at least tried the drug
once in their lifetime ”■62. To keep up with their
demand cocaine imports had to be increased 200-fold,
from 2 tons in 1980 to 400 tons in 1990, and have
since been kept at this level 26’53'62 (Fig. 2). These data
are based on cocaine seizures that increased from 500
kg in 1980 to 100 tons in 1990 and have since
remained at this level 62'64'65 (seeFig2). The Bureau of
Justice Statistics estimates that only 10-20% of the
imported cocaine is confiscated, and that American
consumption is currently at least 400 tons per year
66. This corresponds to about 110 g for each of the 3.6
million regular users per year, which is rather close to
the estimated daily consumption of lg per day per
addict 67.
Heroin-related hospital emergencies doubled, from
over 30,000 in 1990 to 63,232 in 1993 51 (Table 2 and
Fig. 2). Heroin deaths climbed from 2,260 in 1991 to
3,522 in 1994 according to the Drug Abuse Warning
Network (DAWN) 61 (Table 2). About 1,500 kg of
heroin were confiscated annually between 1992 and
1995 62. In view of these alarming statistics the popu-
lar press 51'60'68'69 including the San Francisco Chronicle
warned that “a growing segment of the population [is]
attracted by its [heroin] deadly mystique and encour-
aged by its low prices ...” 70.
According to a 1994-survey of the NIDA “more than
5 percent (221,000) of the 4 million women who give
birth each year use illicit drugs during their pregnancy”
51. Many of these mothers are among the AIDS
patients listed as intravenous drug users, and many of
their babies are listed as pediatric AIDS cases by the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)3 (see 6.8. and
6.9).
Based on the amounts confiscated, 2 million doses in
1981 and 97 million doses in 1989, amphetamine con-
sumption has spiraled 50-fold in the 1980s 65. Non-
scientific reports describe new upsurges of ampheta-
mine consumption in the US and Europe among male
homosexuals 71,72 and others 73. According to the US
Department of HHS, “amphetamine-related emer-
gency room episodes... [presenting with] violent para-
noid behavior as well as stroke, seizure and death ...
74 increased from 8,800 in 1990 to 17,665 in 1993 51,
61 (see Table 2). In California amphetamine or ‘speed’
hospitalizations rose even faster from 1,466 in 1984 to
10,167 in 1994 73,75. And the Drug Abuse Warning
Network reports a three-fold increase in amphetamine
deaths from 252 in 1991 to 751 in 1994 61 (Table 2).
There are no American statistics from the Bureau of
Justice on the consumption of nitrite inhalants, even
though nitrites have been banned for recreational use
in the US since 1988. Despite this ban they are sold
legally as room deodorizers 76 78. Before the ban about
five million doses of amylnitrites were consumed in the
US in 1980, mainly by male homosexuals 56'79'80. After
the ban, in 1993, 4.2 million Americans, including 2.8
million men and 1.4 million women, had used nitrites
based on a survey from the National Institute on Drug
Abuse 81.
3.2. Chronology of the drug epidemic in Europe.
Europe was hit by a drug explosion (“Drogen-
Explosion”) at the same time as America. Based on the
amounts confiscated by the Bundeskriminalamt
(BKA), the German consumption of cocaine, heroin,
amphetamines, LSD and cannabis increased 1000 to
10,000 fold from the 1960’s to the 1990’s (Table 3) l0.
According to the Deutsche Hauptstelle fuer
Suchtgefahren (Center for drug addictions) in 1997,
19.3% or 3 million of the 18 to 59 year old former
West German males, and 9.9% or 1.5 million of the
LÆKNANEMINN
94
1. tbl. 1997, 50. árg.