D.C. Epidemiological Profile

[Human]

http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/pubs/20070315.pdf

[Luke_Wilbur]

Nearly 1 in 10 residents in the District of Columbia (approximately 60,000) are addicted to illegal drugs and/or alcohol. At least one-half (26,000–42,000) of these individuals have co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. APRA works to address this problem through a results-oriented methodology that utilizes a science-based approach to substance abuse prevention and treatment. APRA combines three fundamental elements to provide effective and innovative strategies in a continuum of care: prevention, treatment, and aftercare. APRA is also building alliances with other agencies to provide wrap-around recovery support services. The Office of Prevention and Youth Services (OPYS), within APRA, is responsible for prevention in the District. OPYS funds and manages an array of primary and secondary prevention efforts that are school, community, and media focused to strengthen community and individual resilience against initiating or continuing drug or alcohol abuse.

 

Consequences of Illicit Drug Use

 

Four major consequences were identified and assessed using the process described in the report. The highlights from the illicit drug section are as follows:

 

• Property Crime

An estimated 5,843 drug-related property crimes were reported to police in 2005.

 

Although the District’s rates for property crimes have decreased, they remained consistently higher than the national rates.

 

The estimated numbers of drug-related burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts have decreased since 2003.

 

• AIDS

 

The rate of AIDS case reports in the District was holding steady at more than 12 times the national rate.

 

Nearly 1 in 4 cumulative AIDS prevalent-cases (3,912 cases) were IDU-related in 2004.

 

AIDS cases were most likely to be African-American males aged 20-44.

 

The AIDS incident cases increased 15% from 2001 to 2004.

 

• Hepatitis B & C

 

The acute hepatitis B rate in the District increased slightly in 2004.

 

More than half of the 19 acute hepatitis B cases were male and nearly three-quarters were African American.

 

The 1,655 cases of chronic hepatitis C were most likely to be Black, male, and between the ages of 40 to 59 when diagnosed.

 

Attributable fractions indicated that approximately 1 in 3 acute hepatitis B and 1 in 5 chronic hepatitis C cases were drug-related.

 

• Past Year Drug Abuse or Dependence

 

An estimated 16,000 District residents reported past year abuse or dependence in 2004.

 

The estimated number of District residents who reported abuse or dependence decreased 24% from 2002 to 2004.

 

More than half of the District residents who reported past year abuse or dependence were adults age 26 or older. An average of 38,000 persons aged 12 or older reported use of marijuana between 2002 and 2005, while 20,000 reported use of an illegal drug other than marijuana in the past year. Trends related to illicit drug use among high school students somewhat decreased between 2003 and 2005. Reported use of marijuana was much higher than cocaine and inhalants for high school students in 2005. Cocaine use among the adult arrestee population was much higher than for opiates and PCP between 2001 and 2005.

[Human]

I posted the link which Luke has highlighted for all of you, just so you know what's going on with in your own community, and armed with the information you have now? On how best the businesses, community, and the D.C. government CAN work TOGETHER to minimize the current problem.

 

 

 

It's not going to be minimized by the government alone, THEY NEED EVERYONES HELP.