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NDIC seal linked to Home page. National Drug Intelligence Center
National Drug Threat Assessment 2003
January 2003

Executive Summary

The trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs and diverted pharmaceuticals pose a serious threat to the United States because of the adverse effects of drug abuse on the lives of millions of Americans and the substantial resources consumed in combating illicit drugs at the federal, state, and local levels. In 2001 an estimated 28.4 million people aged 12 and older reported using an illicit drug within the past year; an estimated 3.2 million people were dependent on or abusers of illicit drugs. America's drug users spent nearly $64 billion on illicit drugs in 2000, and the total cost of drug trafficking and drug-related crime to American society in that year exceeded $160 billion.

The level of threat posed by individual drugs varies from region to region. Nationally, however, reporting from federal, state, and local law enforcement and public health agencies indicates that cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, and MDMA are the greatest concerns. Augmenting this reporting are results of NDIC's 2002 survey, which reveal that 33.1 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide identify their greatest drug threat as cocaine (both powder and crack), followed by methamphetamine (31.0%), marijuana (20.4%), heroin (7.9%), diverted pharmaceuticals (2.7%), and MDMA (2.0%). Although a lesser threat overall, other dangerous drugs such as GHB and GHB analogs, ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin are a considerable concern, particularly because of their appeal to adolescents and young adults.

Cocaine. Cocaine is a principal drug threat to the United States. Both powder cocaine and crack are prevalent throughout the country, and overall availability is stable at high levels. All DEA Field Divisions and HIDTAs, as well as most Pulse Check sources, report that powder cocaine and crack are readily or widely available, and most describe cocaine as the greatest drug threat to their areas. Statistical reporting regarding cocaine-related federal investigations, arrests, and seizures did not change appreciably from 2000 to 2001.

The demand for powder cocaine and crack is relatively stable at high levels, and possibly rising slightly among adults. Estimated cocaine production increased in 2001; however, estimates suggest that only about 28 percent of the export-quality cocaine prepared for shipment to world markets was smuggled into the United States, primarily through the Mexico-Central America corridor. Cocaine is transported via commercial and private vehicles, rail traffic, buses, pedestrians, as well as commercial and private aircraft. The distribution of powder cocaine and crack is pervasive throughout the country, and the market for both forms of the drug appears to be stable overall. All DEA Field Divisions and HIDTAs report that powder cocaine is widely distributed in their areas, and most report that crack cocaine also is widely distributed in inner cities, particularly in lower income areas. Primary market areas for cocaine include Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

Methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a principal drug threat to the United States. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies indicates that methamphetamine availability is widespread in the western and central United States and is increasing in the eastern half of the country, albeit slowly. Despite overall increasing availability and an increase in methamphetamine seized, data regarding methamphetamine-related federal investigations and arrests show decreases in 2001. These decreases likely are due to a shift by DEA to investigate fewer but higher priority methamphetamine targets.

The level of methamphetamine use in the United States is rising among adults and holding relatively steady among adolescents. Law enforcement and interagency reporting, as well as laboratory seizure data, suggests that production in the United States and Mexico increased slightly over the past year. Interagency reporting also indicates that methamphetamine production in Southeast Asia increased in 2001; however, only a small percentage of that produced in Southeast Asia is intended for distribution in the United States. The transportation of domestically produced methamphetamine from laboratories and stash houses to markets throughout the country occurs primarily by private vehicle, while methamphetamine produced in foreign source areas is smuggled into the United States overland primarily in private vehicles and via mail services. The distribution of methamphetamine is expanding slowly, particularly in areas of the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions. Mexican distributors are predominant in western states as well as in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions. The primary market areas for methamphetamine are Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and the Central States (Arkansas, Iowa, and Missouri).

Marijuana. Marijuana is a leading drug threat to the country. It is the most readily available and widely used illicit drug in the United States, and its prevalence has contributed to both an acceptance of marijuana use among some adults and adolescents and a perception that the drug is not harmful. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies, as well as federal investigation, arrest, and seizure data, indicates marijuana availability changed little over the past year.

Some national substance abuse indicators suggest that marijuana use may rise despite relatively stable levels of use since the late 1990s. The number of past year users increased significantly in 2001, and national-level prevalence studies show some decreases in the perception of risk regarding marijuana use. Available data suggest that marijuana production is high both in the United States and in foreign source areas. Transport of marijuana from source areas to markets occurs via many methods but primarily overland in commercial and private vehicles. Distribution of marijuana appears to be stable, and a wide range of criminal groups, gangs, and independent dealers distribute the drug throughout the country. Primary market areas for marijuana include Central Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson), Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle.

Heroin. Heroin is a significant drug threat to the United States. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies indicates that the availability of heroin is widespread and that it is increasing, particularly in New England and in areas of the Mid-Atlantic. South American heroin is most prevalent in the eastern half of the country, while Mexican heroin is dominant in the western United States.

Despite reports of increasing availability, overall demand for heroin appears to be relatively stable and possibly declining among adolescents. Worldwide heroin production decreased significantly between 2000 and 2001; however, production in the principal sources of heroin to U.S. markets, Mexico and Colombia, may have increased. Heroin is smuggled into the country by private vehicle across the U.S.-Mexico border, by couriers on commercial flights, and by maritime conveyances, including cruise ships. Heroin generally is distributed in metropolitan areas; nonetheless, distribution of the drug has spread to smaller communities, largely facilitated by independent distributors who travel to large cities to purchase midlevel quantities for distribution in their home communities. The primary heroin market areas are Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.

MDMA. The trafficking and abuse of MDMA pose a significant threat to the United States. MDMA is widely available in every region of the country, principally in large metropolitan areas but increasingly in smaller cities and towns. Reporting from law enforcement and public health agencies indicates that MDMA is now considered a mainstream drug in many areas. It--like other drugs--is widely available in nightclubs and schools, at parties and shopping malls, and on street corners and is often sold with other drugs such as crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.

The demand for MDMA appears to be increasing among both adults and adolescents; however, data from national-level prevalence studies indicate that the rate of increase has slowed. MDMA produced in several countries is available in U.S. markets, but the Netherlands and Belgium continue to be the source of most of the MDMA in the United States. Domestic MDMA production remains limited. MDMA transported from Europe is smuggled into the United States by couriers on commercial flights and, to a lesser extent, via mail services, either directly from European source countries or via transit countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and various Caribbean island nations. Most MDMA distribution occurs in large cities and their suburbs; however, much of the increased distribution is occurring in midsize cities with large college populations. The primary market areas for MDMA are Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

Other Dangerous Drugs. Other dangerous drugs, which include club drugs such as GHB (and GHB analogs), ketamine, and Rohypnol as well as hallucinogens such as LSD, PCP, and psilocybin, pose a relatively low threat in comparison with other illicit drugs. The availability and use of other dangerous drugs overall appear to be stable; however, the increasing availability of some of these drugs--such as GHB, ketamine, and PCP--is raising concerns among law enforcement and drug treatment providers. Other dangerous drugs are present in every region of the country but are most prevalent in metropolitan areas, where they are used primarily by adolescents and young adults.

Many national substance abuse indicators do not measure use of club drugs; however, available data indicate that use of GHB and Rohypnol are relatively stable and that use of ketamine may be trending upward. GHB is produced illegally in domestic and foreign laboratories, Rohypnol is produced commercially outside the United States, and ketamine is produced commercially in the United States and in foreign countries. Transport of illegally produced or diverted club drugs is primarily via private vehicles. The primary venues for these drugs remain raves and dance clubs.

The level of hallucinogen use and the number of emergency department mentions and treatment admissions consequent to that use are relatively low. In fact, the use of hallucinogens in general appears to have peaked in the mid-1990s and has since decreased through 2001. Use of LSD is trending downward among adults and adolescents, use of PCP is very low among both groups and may be declining among youth, and data for lifetime use of psilocybin indicate relative stability at low levels. Production of LSD and PCP and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms are concentrated in the western United States, and transport of these hallucinogens occurs primarily via mail services and private vehicles.

Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical controlled substances, which include narcotics, depressants, and stimulants, are a growing drug threat to the country. Pharmaceutical controlled substances are commonly diverted through fraudulent prescriptions, unscrupulous physicians and pharmacists, and theft. The number of armed robberies of pharmacies has increased substantially over the past 2 years. These robberies have particularly targeted the Schedule II narcotic OxyContin, which commands a very high street value.

Diverted narcotics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and codeine are available in drug markets throughout the country, and this availability may be increasing. The overall demand for diverted narcotics is high and increasing, as are the consequences associated with their abuse.

Depressants, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates, are available and abused throughout the country to varying degrees. The abuse of depressants appears to be increasing, particularly for benzodiazepines.

The availability of diverted stimulants is increasing in most areas of the country, largely because of sharp increases in stimulant prescriptions since 1990. And while reporting from law enforcement agencies indicates a rise in stimulant abuse, data from drug consequence studies show declines in emergency department mentions for stimulants.

Money Laundering. The trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs--from cocaine to diverted pharmaceuticals--generate enormous profits, and detecting and seizing the money and assets derived from drug trafficking is critical to U.S. counterdrug efforts.

Colombian and Mexican drug trafficking organizations are the primary drug money launderers in the United States and earn billions of dollars in this country from their illicit drug transactions. Most drug transactions are conducted in cash and typically involve small denominations. Thus, drug trafficking organizations and criminal groups amass large volumes of bills that must be smuggled to a foreign destination or placed into the U.S. financial system.

The bulk shipment of currency, as well as of monetary instruments such as money orders and checks, is a principal drug money laundering method used by traffickers operating in the United States. Traffickers also launder drug proceeds through money service businesses such as money remittance, money exchange, and check cashing firms, by commingling drug proceeds with funds generated at legitimate businesses, by purchasing real estate and vehicles, by exploiting the gaming industry, and by using underground banking systems.

  


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