But many drug experts feel the money that would pay for the 100,000 officers could be better spent.

Some drug experts say the effort, while impressive, comes late.

Is it so surprising to ask drug experts to do the same?

The shift is also taking place in several other states, including California, researchers and drug experts say.

Drug experts are not sure how to account for the declines.

"I'm concerned about the pressure on members of the council when they sit down and try to sort this out," the American drug expert said.

In the end, drug experts said, the brand name probably has little significance.

But other drug experts said yields could not be predicted because of various market factors.

But one strategy many officials and drug experts keep returning to is rehabilitation.

For years much of the heroin on city streets was about 15 percent pure, drug experts say.