Marijuana

Marijuana was one of the most commonly used drugs in both Maricopa County and Pima County for 2000 and 2001.  However, trends in marijuana use differed for each county.  In Maricopa County the percent of arrestees testing positive for marijuana increased by about 5% for both males and females.  In Pima County, the percent of arrestees testing positive for marijuana decreased by around 3% for males and females.

Cocaine

Cocaine was the other most commonly used drug overall in Maricopa and Pima Counties in 2000 and 2001 (the drug test employed did not distinguish between crack and powder cocaine).   However, unlike marijuana, cocaine use decreased across the board in 2001.  The percent of urinalyses testing positive for cocaine decreased for both males and females in Maricopa County and Pima County from 2000 to 2001.

Opiates

In general, opiates were among the least used drug in Arizona.  In Maricopa County, positive tests for opiates were nearly identical at around 6% for males and females from 2000 to 2001.  In Pima County, females were more likely to test positive for opiate than males in each year.  While the percent of arrestees using opiates in Pima County was higher than in Maricopa County, the percent in Pima County decreased from 2000 to 2001, especially for females.

Methamphetamine

Trends in methamphetamine use are among the most striking.  In both 2000 and 2001, a far greater percent of arrestees tested positive for methamphetamine in Maricopa County than in Pima County.  The percentages in Maricopa County increased by around 5% from 2000 to 2001 for both males and females.  In Pima County, methamphetamine use showed little difference between 2000 and 2001.