Urban Researchers Who Track Drug Use Will Meet In Baltimore, June 13-16
Their Frontline Reports Offer Early Warning of National Trends

Current and emerging patterns and trends in drug abuse will be discussed at the 48th meeting of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG), June 13-16, at the Hilton Baltimore and Towers, 20 West Baltimore Street, in Baltimore, MD. "For 24 years, the CEWG has given the country frontline reports on emerging drug use trends in the United States," notes Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). "Advance knowledge of new forms of drug use, such as Ôrolling and trollingÕ (combining Ecstasy with LSD), and reports of localized drug use problems from these important urban areas are invaluable to our understanding of drug use nationwide."

The CEWG is a network of researchers and public health officials from 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas and the state of Texas established by NIDA in 1976. The group meets twice a year to discuss current patterns and trends of drug abuse. The CEWG includes researchers from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and from the state of Texas. Specific information sources include treatment and mortality data from local or state agencies; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationÕs Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN); the National Institute of JusticeÕs Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) System; and seizure, price, purity, prescription/distribution, and arrest data from the Drug Enforcement Administration and state and local law enforcement agencies.

The 48th meeting will open on Tuesday, June 13, at 8:55 a.m. with comments from Dr. Leshner. TuesdayÕs session will include reports from Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Miami; Boston; New York City; Newark; Philadelphia; New Orleans; St. Louis; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; and Detroit. The agenda on Wednesday, June 14, will feature reports from Texas, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Honolulu, followed by discussion.

The morning session Thursday, June 15, will feature a discussion of NIDAÕs programs, including epidemiology, services, and prevention research; treatment research and development; neuroscience and behavioral research; science policy and communications; and AIDS and other medical consequences of drug abuse.

The international component of this meeting, on Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16, will include presentations from researchers and discussions among health officials and academicians from selected countries, including Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, the Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa, and reports from Europe and Asia.

Note: A preliminary agenda is included (below), and the media is invited to attend the meeting. To register or arrange interviews, please call the NIDA press office at (301) 443-6245.

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