Methamphetamine

The distribution and abuse of methamphetamine pose a lower threat to New Jersey than that of the other major illicit drugs. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services does not separately record primary treatment admissions for methamphetamine abuse since there are so few in comparison with other drugs. According to DAWN data, there were no methamphetamine ED mentions in the Newark metropolitan area in 2001 and one in 2002. According to DAWN mortality data, there were no methamphetamine-related deaths in Essex, Morris, or Union Counties in 2001.

Methamphetamine availability is limited in New Jersey. According to the NDTS 2003, 17.1 percent of New Jersey law enforcement agencies reported that methamphetamine was readily available, and 1.3 percent of agencies identified methamphetamine as their greatest drug threat. According to FDSS data, federal law enforcement officials in New Jersey seized 0.8 kilogram of methamphetamine in 2002. USSC data indicate that the percentage of drug-related federal sentences related to methamphetamine in New Jersey in FY2001 (5.2%) was lower than the percentage nationwide (14.2%).

Most methamphetamine production that occurs in New Jersey involves the P2P (phenyl-2-propanone) method. Law enforcement officials seized between one and two P2P methamphetamine laboratories annually in the state from 1997 to 2002, except in 2000 when none were seized. Although methamphetamine production in New Jersey has been infrequent, chemicals used to produce methamphetamine frequently are diverted from chemical companies in the state to methamphetamine producers and distributors nationwide. In January 2002 agents and diversion investigators from the DEA Newark Division arrested the production manager of a chemical company in East Windsor and seized approximately 19 tons of precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine. At least 40 methamphetamine laboratories throughout the United States had been supplied with pseudoephedrine and ephedrine through the company during the previous several years.

Methamphetamine also is transported into New Jersey from California and southwestern states in tractor-trailers, private vehicles, and via package delivery services. Some transportation of methamphetamine into the state originates at production sites in neighboring states such as Pennsylvania.

OMGs such as Breed, Pagan's, and Warlocks are the dominant wholesale-level distributors of methamphetamine in New Jersey. They usually sell retail quantities of methamphetamine to other OMGs, primarily in the central and southern counties, and in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and North Carolina. In addition, teenagers and young adults sell methamphetamine at raves. In northern New Jersey methamphetamine sold for $8,500 to $20,000 per kilogram, $800 to $1,000 per ounce, and $100 to $200 per gram in the second quarter of FY2003, according to the DEA Newark Division. In southern New Jersey methamphetamine sold for $35,000 per kilogram, $800 to $2,000 per ounce, and $60 to $100 per gram during the same period.

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