In Orange County Schools, of the 4,347 students surveyed, representing 31,809 middle schools students, they indicated use of at least one of the following substances, to at least some degree, within the past 3 months.

• Wine/Wine Coolers - 30%
• Beer - 20%
• Cigarettes - 16.5%
• Hard Liquor (Whiskey) - 10%
• Marijuana - 10%
• Liquid Paper/Inhalent - 10%

Further...

• 60% responded they had many/most friends who used alcohol or other drugs.
• 19% reported they had friends that who sold drugs.
• 25% felt pressured to use drugs.
• 5% reported that they had sold drugs or helped someone sell drugs.
• 3% reported use of heroin, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, uppers, and downers.

In Orange County High Schools, of the 2,882 students surveyed, representing 38,774 high school students, they indicated use of at least one of the following substances, to at least some degree, within the past 3 months.

• Wine/Wine Coolers - 44%
• Beer - 34%
• Cigarettes - 25.5%
• Hard Liquor (Whiskey) - 30%
• Marijuana - 28%
• Liquid Paper/Inhalent - 9%

Further...

• 82% responded they had many/most friends who used alcohol or other drugs.
• 48.3% reported they had friends that sold drugs.
• 31% felt pressured to use alcohol and other drugs.
• 15.4% reported they had sold drugs or helped someone sell drugs.
• 5% reported use of heroin, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, uppers, and downers.

• 21% or 11,442 of the 54,927 arrests booked through Orange County Corrections in 1999, were drug charges.
• There has been a 46% increase in drug charges from 1994 to 1999.
• There has only been a 6% in total arrest/bookings from 1994 to 1999.
• There has been a 59% increase of females charged with drug offenses from 1994 to 1999, while only a 44% increase in same time period for males.
• 70% of the Orange County jail population, assessed for substance abuse, are in need of treatment.

• 70% of all illicit drug users, over 18 years, of age are employed.
• Of the 7,864 businesses in Orange County, only 359 were registered with the Workman's Compensation Office as a Drug Free Workplace.

• In 1999, there were 39 fatal overdoses, due to heroin.
• The average age of the victim was 31.
• The ethnic/gender make up was as follows:
  • White Male 23
  • Hispanic Male 9
  • White Female 6
  • Hispanic Female 1
• Ages:
  • Under 20 5
  • 21-30 16
  • 31-40 11
  • 41-50 7
  • 51-60 0
  • 61-over 0
• In 1999, there were 36 fatal overdoses, due to other drugs (not heroin specified).
• The average age of the victim was 39.
• The ethnic/gender make up was as follows:
  • White Male 19
  • African American Male 4
  • White Female 9
  • African American Female 4
• Ages:
  • Under 20 2
  • 21-30 8
  • 31-40 11
  • 41-50 8
  • 51-60 5
  • 61-over 2