Numbers and patterns: Heroin indicators and what they represent

Trends in heroin or other substance use are typically monitored by quantitative epidemiological indicators. Recently the Baltimore metropolitan area has seen an increase in heroin use among suburban youth. In this article media and interviewee perceptions of the timing of this trend are compared to several different indicators. In general, the indicators do not reflect the timing as experienced by media/interviewees, though in some cases a more precise breakdown by location helps. Usually indicators are too distant and ambiguous to reveal details of changing patterns of use. However, qualitative indicators that are more local and anecdotal do show the pattern in a timely way, though in a superficial manner.