[Trends in drugs-of-abuse in Los Angeles County]

Trends in major drugs-of-abuse, cocaine, heroin/morphine, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines, in Los Angeles County were reported. Death toil of drug abusers in Los Angeles County climbed up high in 1986 due to dramatic increase in cocaine-related deaths. Cocaine-related deaths were responsible for 66.0% (580 cases) of all drugs-of-abuse-related deaths in the first six months of 1988. In the same period, 212, 67, and 20 deaths were related to heroin/morphine, PCP, and amphetamines use, respectively. Emergency room mentions for cocaine in Los Angeles County have greatly been increased since 1982 and recorded 2,331 in the first six months of 1989. Also, heroin/morphine-related emergency room mentions in the County have steadily been increased since 1982 and reached 1,216 in the first six months of 1989. Contrary to these, PCP-related emergency room mentions in the County were decreased from 1,259 in the first six months of 1982 to 630 in those of 1989. There were only 174 emergency room mentions for amphetamines in the County in the first six months of 1989. In 1992, 5,754 patients were admitted to Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medical Center for treatment of poisoning. Cocaine poisoning, 1,965 cases, was secondly frequent following ethanol poisoning, 2,132 cases. Thirdly and fourthly frequent poisoning were by heroin/morphine, 712 cases, and PCP, 218 cases, respectively. Drug abusers in an age group of 30s were encountered much more frequently at the Medical Center than those in any other age groups, and male dominated greater part of age groups of 30s or more.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)