American Notes DRUGS

Police have long contended that drug abusers are likely to commit street crimes. A Justice Department study last week revealed the extent of the problem: half to three-fourths of the men arrested for serious crimes in a dozen U.S. cities had recently used drugs. In New York City, 79% of those tested had used cocaine, marijuana or some other illegal substance. In Washington the proportion was 77%, in San Diego, 75%. Those figures were "much higher than anyone had anticipated," said James Stewart, the study's director. "If we are going to do something about the crime rate, we are going to have to confront the drug problem."