Drug report
finds heroin use
ower in Eugene
than expected
The University’s Drug Information Center
)|C has released a report indicating that while
e use of marijuana, LSD and cocaine are
idespread in the Eugene-Springfield area, the use
heroin is very slight.
The report's findings were made public by DIC
[rector Mark Miller at a Monday press con
rence.
The report found that many buyers in the area
,f, receiving substances that are misrepresented
. the seller The chemical analysis, which was
irformed over the last nine months, was done by
ePharmChem Laboratories in Palo Alto, Calif.
Miller estimated that the number of regular
iersof heroin in the area is between 50 and 100. He
mmented that this figure is much lower than
■evious estimates issued by the Eugene Police
epartment and White Bird Clinic.
Cocaine usage is increasing, however. Miller
noted that the center had received 31 samples of
substances that were thought to be cocaine Of
these, about three-fourths were sent in within the
last three months
Noting that cocaine costs from $50 to $75 per
gram. Miller pointed out that the number of sam
ples sent in indicates widespread availability.
Miller believes that area users are switching to
cocaine from amphetamines, to obtain a more
pleasant high with fewer side effects.
He added that about half of the samples that the
center has received were not pure cocaine. The
drug was frequently in a mixture with local
anesthetics such a procain and xylocaine.
Not just cocaine samples are lacking in purity.
Many other drugs, when analyzed, turned out to be
other than what the buyers thought they were.
The report revealed that nearly half the sam
ples sent in as psilocybin and mescaline turned out
to be LSD.
And seven out of nine samples purported to be
synthetic THC (the active compound in marijuana )
were found to be POP. an animal tranquilizer with
potentially harmful side-effects. Miller listed
paranoia, glaucoma, high blood pressure and
delusions as among the effects of the chemical.
Marijuana is still the most widely used drug in
the Eugene-Springfield area, according to Don
McLoud, assistant director of the DIC.
In addition, McLoud stated that Eugene has one
of the highest per capita rates for marijuana usage
in the state.
Comparing the relative usage rates by drug,
McLoud estimated that for every ten persons who
smoke marijuana, there is one person who
regularly uses LSD For every ten LSD users, he
continued, there is one regular user of cocaine, and
that for every ten cocaine users, there exists one
user of heroin.
The report, which may be obtained from the
DIC office in the EMU, was cited by Miller as the
first such study in the state, and only the second in
the nation.
He said that the only way to compile a valid
picture of local drug usage patterns is through
studies like the drug analysis project.
special committee begins work
mi bill to lower age of majority
By NAN HENDERSON
Of the Emerald
SALEM (Special) — The legislative Special
lint Committee on Alcohol and Drugs — created
as session to deal with those controversial topics
began work Monday on a bill (HB 3167) which
wers the age of majority to 18.
At the end of the two-hour work session which
flowed a previous lengthy hearing on the subject,
was apparent that the committee will spend
tveral more hours discussing and possibly
Mending the bill.
The committee took no action on the bill
londay.
Questions were raised during the meeting about
section which states all persons shall be con
feed to have reached the age of majority upon
lamage and sections which provide no person not
roinor can be admitted or retained in refor
latories such as MacLaren and Hillcrest.
The committee agreed to solicit additional
testimony on those sections of the bill before taking
any action on the measure.
No indication was given as to whether the
committee will attempt to substitute the age 19 in
the section of the bill lowering the drinking age to
18.
The drinking age question is sure to cause the
most conflict in the committee and on the House and
Senate floors.
The bill, however, also lowers the age for
numerous other “adult" rights, including entering
into contracts, forming corporations, voting in
school district elections and no longer falling under
parental authority.
Committee eo-chairer, Rep. Stephen Kafoury
(D-Portland) continued Monday to urge the com
mittee to lower the age for all adult rights to 18 or to
reject lowering the age for any right.
“I have a philosophical commitment to either
making a statement that a person is mature at 18 or
saying a person is mature at 21,” Kafoury said.
He indicated that he hopes the committee can
take final action on the measure in a week.
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