The Region : Cocaine Death Rate Soars

Cocaine-related deaths in Los Angeles County increased dramatically between 1982 and 1985, the county Drug Abuse Program office reported. Rene Topalian, assistant director of the program, blamed the increase on a “high proportion” of middle-class and upper-middle-class users. There were 118 cocaine-related deaths in the county last year, compared to only 43 in 1982, the office reported. Cocaine-related problems that put people in hospital emergency rooms increased 314%--from fewer than 300 such cases in 1982 to more than 1,000 in 1985, the report said. Topalian said the big demand for the drug has made it more available at a reduced cost.