ARCHIVED Graphic Version PDF Version To Publications Page To Home Page
Title:
Nebraska Drug Threat Assessment
Publication Date: July 2003
Document ID: 2003-S0389NE-001
Archived on: January 1, 2006. This document may contain dated information. It remains available to provide access to historical materials.
This report is a strategic assessment that addresses the status and outlook of the drug threat to Nebraska. Analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transportation, and distribution, as well as the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society as a whole. While NDIC sought to incorporate the latest available information, a time lag often exists between collection and publication of data, particularly demand-related data sets. NDIC anticipates that this drug threat assessment will be useful to policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and treatment providers at the federal, state, and local levels because it draws upon a broad range of information sources to describe and analyze the drug threat to Nebraska.
Your questions, comments, and suggestions for future subjects are welcome at any time. Addresses are provided at the end of the page.
Contents
Methamphetamine
Abuse
Availability
Violence
Production
Transportation
DistributionCocaine
Abuse
Availability
Violence
Production
Transportation
DistributionMarijuana
Abuse
Availability
Violence
Production
Transportation
DistributionOther Dangerous Drugs
Club Drugs
Hallucinogens
Diverted PharmaceuticalsHeroin
Abuse
Availability
Violence
Production
Transportation
DistributionList of Tables
Table 1. Drug-Related Treatment Admissions to Publicly Funded Facilities, Nebraska, 1997-2001
Table 2. Percentage of Drug-Related Federal Sentences by Drug Type, Nebraska and United States, FY1997-FY2001
Table 3. Federal Drug Seizures in Kilograms, Nebraska, 1998-2001
Executive Summary
The production, distribution, and abuse of illicit drugs pose a serious threat to Nebraska. Grand Island, Omaha, Lincoln, and Scottsbluff are the primary drug distribution cities in the state and also serve as transit areas for drugs transported to other states.
Methamphetamine is a principal drug threat to Nebraska, primarily because of the drug's availability and the harmful physical and environmental effects associated with its abuse and production. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state report that the level of methamphetamine availability in their jurisdictions is high. Many also reported the presence of methamphetamine laboratories in their areas, as well as an adverse environmental impact from the laboratories. Methamphetamine produced by Mexican criminal groups in Mexico, California, and southwestern states is the predominant type available in Nebraska. Methamphetamine produced in the state is also available, and seizures of small-scale methamphetamine laboratories have increased. Caucasian local independent producers using the Birch reduction method are the primary in-state methamphetamine producers. Mexican criminal groups transport methamphetamine from Mexico, California, and southwestern states into Nebraska in private and commercial vehicles. These criminal groups also are the primary wholesale distributors of methamphetamine in Nebraska. Mexican criminal groups, Caucasian local independent dealers, street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs distribute retail quantities of methamphetamine from residences, parking lots, or business establishments. Violence associated with methamphetamine distribution and abuse is a concern within the state.
Cocaine poses a significant threat to Nebraska because of its ready availability, highly addictive nature, and association with violent crime. Powdered cocaine is readily available throughout the state, while crack cocaine is primarily available in the metropolitan areas of Lincoln and Omaha. Mexican criminal groups, traveling primarily in private and commercial vehicles, dominate the transportation of powdered cocaine into Nebraska from Mexico through California and southwestern states. These criminal groups dominate wholesale powdered cocaine distribution throughout the state and distribute powdered cocaine at the retail level as well. Local independent dealers and street gangs distribute powdered cocaine at the retail level and convert powdered cocaine into crack for retail distribution at or near its intended distribution site. Retail-level cocaine distribution commonly is prearranged or is facilitated by pagers, pay phones, and cellular telephones. Distribution typically occurs on street corners and at bars or private residences. The distribution of crack cocaine frequently is associated with violence, particularly aggravated assault and robbery.
Marijuana is the most widely available and frequently abused illicit drug in Nebraska. Most of the marijuana available in the state is produced in Mexico, although some cannabis is cultivated locally. Mexican criminal groups transport marijuana into Nebraska in private and commercial vehicles. Mexican criminal groups and, to a lesser extent, local independent dealers are the primary wholesale and retail marijuana distributors in the state. Street gangs also distribute marijuana at the retail level. Marijuana typically is packaged in sandwich bags and distributed at the retail level from bars, strip clubs, schools, parking lots, residences, businesses, and at concerts.
Other dangerous drugs (ODDs) Some other dangerous drugs pose an increasing threat to Nebraska. ODDs include club drugs such as MDMA and GHB (and its analogs); the hallucinogens LSD, psilocybin, and jimsonweed; and diverted pharmaceuticals such as codeine, diazepam (Valium), hydrocodone (Lortab and Vicodin), hydromorphone (Diluadid), methadone, morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan), and propoxyphene (Darvocet). Caucasian local independent dealers are the primary distributors of club drugs, which are increasingly available in cities with colleges and universities, and typically are distributed at raves, nightclubs, and bars. Caucasian local independent dealers are the primary distributors of hallucinogens and diverted pharmaceuticals.
Heroin poses a low threat to Nebraska. The availability and abuse of heroin are decreasing in most areas of the state; however, Mexican black tar heroin and brown powdered heroin are available in some areas. No single group dominates the transportation or distribution of heroin in Nebraska; both Mexican criminal groups and Caucasian local independent dealers transport the drug into the state. Wholesale distribution rarely occurs in Nebraska. At the retail level, Mexican criminal groups, local independent dealers, and street gangs distribute heroin.
Addresses
National Drug Intelligence Center
319 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Johnstown, PA 15901Tel. (814) 532-4601
FAX (814) 532-4690
E-mail NDIC.Contacts@usdoj.govNational Drug Intelligence Center
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1001
McLean, VA 22102-3840Tel. (703) 556-8970
FAX (703) 556-7807
Web Addresses
ADNET: http://ndicosa
DOJ: http://www.usdoj.gov/archive/ndic/
LEO: home.leo.gov/lesig/archive/ndic/
RISS: ndic.riss.net
To Top To Contents To Next Page
To Publications Page To Home Page
End of page.