Cops Bust Drug Gang... continued
The leader, or Superior Blood, in charge of the group was Ruben Davis, who had a sister and brother serving as his top aides, Brennan said.
Chief George Brown, head of the NYPD's Organized Crime Control Bureau, said the gang was extremely violent and - in addition to wounding rival gang members - was responsible for a shooting that seriously injured a child riding a bike on Fifth Avenue at 118th Street in 1996.
But Brennan said the impact on the neighborhood's quality of life was as disturbing as the violence. Residents were afraid to complain to the police, she said.
Brennan said the gang members met in prison and forged alliances to ward off violence from rival jail gangs such as the Crips. Once members were released from prison, they took their organization to the streets, recruiting more members to empower the gang and expand its drug rackets.
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Teen Drug Use declines
The newly released Monitoring the Future Survey shows a decline in heroin and inhalant use among American teenagers, and teens are smoking less, as well, according to a Dec. 19 press release from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Use of ecstasy continues to rise, however, but the rate of increase is less than it has been in recent years, officials said.
According to the survey, the rise in ecstasy use among students in grades 8, 10 and 12 over the past three years has slowed from 2000 to 2001. In addition, rates of heroin use decreased among 10th and 12th graders and a gradual decline in misuse of inhalants continued in 2001, with a significant decrease seen among 12th graders.|||
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