Cocaine abuse in Japan.

During the past several years, Japan has seen an emergence of cocaine abuse. Although there were only 43 cocaine-related arrests in 1988, the number in 1989 jumped to 96-more than double the previous year. In 1991, the number increased to 122. National Police Agency data shows that about 50% of methamphetamine (MAP) violators had been arrested for drug use. In comparison, only about 5% of cocaine arrests were for drug use, whereas about 50% were for possession, a pattern more similar to that of marijuana violators than MAP violators. More violators were in their 20's for cocaine and marijuana violations than for MAP violations. The percentage of foreigners involved was about 27% for cocaine and about 10% for marijuana, figures greater than the percentage for MAP (about 4%). The first cocaine patients to emerge were the two reported in a 1989 nationwide psychiatric hospital survey. This came two years after the first reporting of marijuana patients. In a similar 1991 survey, two more cocaine patients were reported. Three of the four cocaine patients had abused marijuana prior to abusing cocaine. Marijuana patients and MAP patients have the following demographic differences: about 57% of marijuana patients but only about 4% of MAP patients had enrolled in junior colleges, colleges or universities; and about 71% of marijuana patients but only about 5% of MAP patients were from high income families. Only about 14% of marijuana patients but about 74% of MAP patients had previously been apprehended. These patterns suggest that, demographically, cocaine abusers in Japan are more similar to marijuana abusers than MAP abusers.