Subjects under discussion will include the post-heroin drugs scene, research analysis of drug use among 14 and 15 year olds, and developments involving crack, ecstasy and ketamine.

Law-enforcement officials say there are not enough prosecutors, judges or jails to handle the flood of cases, many involving crack.

Some women, such as Miss Davis, are trying to conquer their dependency - often involving crack - and keep their children.

According to a report released yesterday by a state-appointed panel of judges, lawyers and court administrators, the new method was put into effect at a time felony cases, primarily drug cases involving crack, were increasing dramatically.

Some 90 percent of those convicted of Federal crimes involving crack are black; for crimes with powdered cocaine, which carry much lighter sentences, about 30 percent of the defendants are black.

But in one instance involving crack, a change in grade performance indicated yet another aspect of an adult-child relationship turned upside down.

But other experts note an unexpected factor is the explosive growth in violent gang and drug-related crime, especially involving crack.

The Suffolk police narcotics unit's top priority is "long-term investigations that involve cocaine, crack and heroin," said Detective Sgt. Thomas Higgins.

Of the 900 OCDETF investigations initiated in FY2002, 608 (67.6 %) involved cocaine and 184 (20.4%) involved crack, compared with 65.7 percent and 26.0 percent, respectively, in FY2001.

Although he admitted spending 14 months in jail for drug offenses involving crack, Mr. Delgado denied that the argument was about drugs.