War on Drugs

Heroin Price, Purity, and Quantities Seized Over the Past 10 Years Gao ID: GGD-92-95FS May 27, 1992

In response to congressional concerns about the great availability of heroin in the United States, this fact sheet provides information for the past 10 years on the price and purity levels of heroin--two indicators of the drug's availability--and on heroin seizures. GAO discusses whether progress has been made to reduce the frequency of double-counting of drug seizures caused by multiple agencies reporting the same seizure. In addition, GAO provides data specifically on New York City heroin seizures.

GAO found that (1) the average price of heroin decreased slightly from 1982 to 1991; (2) the purity level of seized heroin increased from 1982 to 1991; (3) heroin seizures by all federal agencies increased; (4) heroin seizures in New York City decreased; and (5) progress on the reduction of double-counting has fluctuated, but double-counting has been a long-standing problem.



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