Heroin

The availability and abuse of heroin are limited in North Dakota. The BCI reports very few heroin investigations. Law enforcement officials report that Mexican black tar heroin is the primary type available, although Mexican brown powdered heroin is occasionally available. Mexican criminal groups transport, distribute, and abuse most of the heroin available in North Dakota. However, in Fargo and Grand Forks these groups distribute heroin to Caucasian independent dealers who sell the drug at the retail level.

Abuse

Heroin abuse in North Dakota is stable at low levels. TEDS data indicate that heroin-related treatment admissions peaked at 14 in 1996 but decreased overall to 9 in 1999. (See Table 4.) In North Dakota in 1999, males composed 66.7 percent of heroin treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities. In the same year 77.8 percent of treatment admissions were Caucasian, while 11.1 percent were Native American/Alaska Native. The largest abuser age group--ages 31 to 35--accounted for 44.4 per-cent of heroin treatment admissions.

Table 4. Heroin-Related Treatment Admissions to Publicly Funded Facilities, North Dakota, 1994-1999

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set.

Despite the low number of treatment admissions, heroin abuse among North Dakota's youth was comparable to the national average. According to the 1999 North Dakota YRBS, 3 percent of North Dakota high school students admit lifetime heroin use compared with 2 percent of high school students nationwide.

To Top      To Contents

Availability

There is little heroin available in North Dakota. Law enforcement agencies across the state report few heroin investigations or arrests. Investigations decreased from 12 in 1995 to 2 in 1999, and arrests decreased from 3 in 1995 to 2 in 1999. Seizures also decreased overall from 1996 to 1999: 724 grams were seized in 1996, while a total of 12 grams was seized from 1997 through 1999. U.S. Sentencing Commission data further substantiate the limited availability of heroin. From 1996 through 1999, only five federal sentences were imposed for heroin offenses in North Dakota. Officials from the Bismarck Police Department report that while there were indications of heroin availability in their jurisdiction, there were no heroin-related seizures or arrests in 2000. According to officials from the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force and the Mandan Police Department, heroin is not available in their jurisdictions.

Although its availability is limited, Mexican black tar heroin is the most common type of heroin in North Dakota. Mexican brown powdered heroin also is available but in very limited amounts. Black tar heroin is available only in the larger urban areas of eastern North Dakota, such as Fargo and Grand Forks. According to officials from the DEA Fargo Resident Office, black tar heroin prices remained stable in North Dakota from FY1999 through the second quarter of FY2001. Black tar heroin prices ranged from $350 to $600 per gram and $4,000 to $10,000 per ounce during this period. No prices were available for Mexican brown powdered heroin.

Violence

There are no indications of violence related directly to heroin distribution or abuse in North Dakota. Nonetheless, the highly addictive nature of heroin causes many abusers to resort to crime to obtain money to purchase the drug. Heroin abusers often commit theft and burglary in order to support their addiction.

Production

Opium is not cultivated nor is heroin refined in North Dakota. Heroin is produced in four source regions: Mexico, South America, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia. Most of the heroin available in North Dakota is produced in Mexico.

To Top      To Contents

Transportation

Mexican criminal groups transport most of the heroin available in North Dakota. They transport heroin into North Dakota from Mexico. According to the North Dakota BCI, these groups are the primary heroin transporters in North Dakota. Officers from the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force confirm that Mexican criminal groups transport Mexican black tar heroin into the eastern part of the state.

To a lesser extent, Caucasian local independent dealers, OMGs, and local street gangs transport heroin into North Dakota. Officials from the Northwest Narcotics Task Force report that Caucasian local independent dealers transport heroin into their jurisdiction, while officers from the Cass County Sheriff's Department report that OMGs and local street gangs transport heroin into the county.

Mexican criminal groups transport heroin into North Dakota using the same routes and methods used to transport other illicit drugs. These groups primarily use I-29 and I-94 to transport drugs into the state. They also use US 2, 83, 85, and 281 as alternative routes to transport heroin into North Dakota. Law enforcement officials report that transporters primarily use private vehicles and package delivery services to transport heroin into North Dakota. Mexico is the primary source area for heroin transported into North Dakota, while Washington and Texas serve as transshipment points for heroin destined for the state.

To a lesser extent, local independent dealers, OMGs, and street gangs use routes and methods similar to those used by Mexican criminal groups to transport heroin into North Dakota. Local independent dealers use I-90 to I-94 to transport heroin from Washington, whereas OMGs typically use I-25 to I-94 to transport the drug from Denver, Colorado. Street gangs transport heroin from Minnesota via I-94. These dealers, OMGs, and gangs transport heroin primarily by private vehicle; package delivery services and commercial trains are used to a lesser extent.

Distribution

Mexican criminal groups distribute most of the heroin available in North Dakota. According to officials from the DEA Fargo Resident Office and the North Dakota BCI, Mexican criminal groups transport, distribute, and abuse most of the Mexican black tar heroin available in the state. However, in Fargo and Grand Forks these groups distribute heroin to Caucasian independent dealers who sell the drug at the retail level. Task force arrest statistics for North Dakota indicate that of the nine individuals arrested for heroin-related incidents from 1995 through 1999, all were Caucasian; seven of the nine were arrested in Grand Forks.

There are no specific locations within North Dakota cities in which to purchase user quantities of heroin. Sales are arranged by word of mouth or take place in private residences. According to officials from the BCI and the DEA Fargo Resident Office, if an individual wants to purchase user quantities of heroin, that person must have a contact; there are no "cold buys." Due to the limited amount of heroin available and the harsh climate in North Dakota, there are no open-air drug markets in the state.

To Top      To Contents     To Previous Page     To Next Page

To Publications Page     To Home Page