Heroin

Treatment statistics and medical examiner data indicate that heroin commonly is abused in Massachusetts. According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), heroin-related treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in Massachusetts increased 25 percent from 29,884 in 2000 to 37,399 in 2001. (See Table 1.) In addition, heroin-related admissions exceeded admissions for any other drug, including alcohol, in 2001. Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) data indicate that the number of heroin emergency department (ED) mentions in the Boston metropolitan area increased from 3,867 in 2000 to 4,358 in 2001, and preliminary estimates indicate that there were 2,155 heroin ED mentions from January through June 2002. The rate of heroin ED mentions per 100,000 population in the Boston metropolitan area (122) was significantly higher than the rate nationwide (37) in 2001. (See Table 2.) Heroin also is a factor in a significant number of deaths in the Boston metropolitan area. DAWN mortality data indicate that heroin/morphine was a factor in 195 of the 374 drug deaths in the Boston metropolitan area in 2001. Suffolk and Middlesex Counties accounted for 125 of the 195 deaths involving heroin/morphine in the Boston metropolitan area.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, TEDS.
*Nationwide, methamphetamine-related admissions account for 95 percent of the amphetamine-related admissions reported to TEDS.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, DAWN.

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Most of the heroin available in Massachusetts is produced in South America. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Domestic Monitor Program (DMP), in fiscal year (FY) 2000 all of the retail heroin purchased in Boston through the DMP for which a signature could be determined was from South America. DMP data also indicate that South American heroin purchased in Boston during FY2000 averaged over 58 percent pure. Federal law enforcement officials report that Southeast Asian heroin occasionally is available, while Southwest Asian heroin and Mexican black tar heroin rarely are available in the state.

Heroin, primarily South American, is readily available throughout Massachusetts. The primary heroin distribution centers in the state are Boston, Fitchburg, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. According to Federal-wide Drug Seizure System (FDSS) data, federal law enforcement officials in Massachusetts seized 2.5 kilograms of heroin in 2002. U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) data indicate that the percentage of drug-related federal sentences in Massachusetts that were heroin-related (16.5%) was notably higher than the national percentage (7.2%) in FY2001. (See Table 3.) In Massachusetts in the first quarter of FY2003, heroin averaged over 60 percent pure and sold for $120,000 per kilogram, $3,100 to $5,000 per ounce, $75 to $200 per gram, and $6 to $25 per bag, according to the DEA Boston Division. Dominican and Colombian criminal groups are the primary transporters of South American heroin into Massachusetts. These groups typically purchase heroin from other Dominican and Colombian criminal groups in New York City, then transport the heroin into the state. South American heroin also is transported into Massachusetts from Providence, Rhode Island. Private and commercial vehicles are the primary means by which South American heroin is transported into Massachusetts. It also is transported into the state via package delivery services, couriers aboard commercial aircraft, and occasionally concealed among cargo aboard commercial maritime vessels.

Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission.
*Represents the percentage of federal sentences that were drug-related.

Asian criminal groups, primarily Vietnamese and Chinese, are the primary transporters of Southeast Asian heroin. These groups usually purchase heroin from other Asian criminal groups in New York City with sources in Canada, then transport the heroin into Massachusetts via private vehicles.

Dominican and Colombian criminal groups dominate the wholesale-level distribution of South American heroin in Massachusetts. Dominican and Puerto Rican criminal groups are the primary retail-level distributors of South American heroin in the state. African American and Asian criminal groups, as well as local street gangs, commonly known as crews, and local independent dealers of various ethnic backgrounds also distribute retail quantities of South American heroin in the state, although to a lesser extent. Asian crews are the primary retail-level distributors of Southeast Asian heroin.

Heroin primarily is distributed from private vehicles at public parking areas at malls, restaurants, and shopping centers. To a lesser extent, heroin also is distributed from private residences. Because of law enforcement pressure, heroin is seldom distributed at open-air drug markets in Massachusetts. Heroin sold at the retail level most often is packaged in small glassine bags, many of which are stamped with a logo.

Massachusetts serves as a distribution center for South American heroin destined for northern New England. South American heroin is transported to Maine and New Hampshire from the Greater Boston area, primarily from Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn in eastern Massachusetts. South American heroin is transported into Vermont primarily from Springfield in western Massachusetts. Caucasian local independent dealers from these states typically travel to cities in Massachusetts, purchase 200 to 500 bags of heroin, and return home. They typically distribute the drug to other heroin abusers and retain some for personal use.

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