Pacific Region

National Drug Intelligence Center
Pharmaceuticals Drug Threat Assessment
November 2004

Less than 1 percent (0.2%) of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Pacific region report that diverted pharmaceuticals are the greatest drug threat to their areas, according to NDTS 2004 data. Moreover, a very low percentage of agencies in the Pacific region report that diverted pharmaceuticals contribute most to violent crime (0.2%) and property crime (0.7%).

The diversion and abuse of prescription narcotics such as hydrocodones (Lorcet and Vicodin), oxycodones (OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan) and, to a lesser extent, hydromorphones (Dilaudid) are significant and increasing threats to the Pacific region. NDTS 2004 data indicate a high percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Pacific region report that hydrocodones (59.7%) and oxycodones (59.5%) are commonly diverted and abused in their areas. A smaller percentage of agencies (7.4%) report that hydromorphones are commonly diverted and abused in their areas.

Members of Polydrug Trafficking Organization Arrested

On September 9, 2004, the California Department of Justice released information regarding the arrests of 26 members of a Sacramento-based polydrug trafficking organization allegedly involved in the trafficking of diverted pharmaceuticals as well as steroids, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Since April 2004 law enforcement authorities have seized 250 Vicodin tablets, 250 oxycodone tablets, an unspecified quantity of steroids, more than 100 pounds of marijuana, and 1 pound of methamphetamine. Assets seized as a result of the investigation have included 34 weapons, 13 motorcycles, 9 vehicles, 2 boats, a motor home, and over $127,000. Numerous sheriff's offices, area task forces, and police departments, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, California Highway Patrol, and California Department of Corrections have assisted in the investigation.

Source: California Department of Justice.

Regional drug prevalence data are not available; however, drug consequence data show high numbers for ED mentions and increases in treatment admissions for prescription narcotics. DAWN data indicate that the combined number of ED mentions for "Narcotic Analgesics" (prescription narcotics) for the four DAWN reporting cities in the Pacific region (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle) fluctuated but remained high from 2000 (3,785 mentions), to 2001 (5,287 mentions), to 2002 (4,778 mentions). TEDS data show that admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Pacific region for "Other Opiates" (nonheroin opiates/synthetics) increased from 2000 (3,409 admissions), to 2001 (3,680 admissions), to 2002 (4,676 admissions), the most recent year for which data are available.

Law enforcement survey data as well as TEDS and DAWN data indicate that prescription depressant diversion and abuse are significant and increasing threats to the Pacific region. NDTS 2004 data show that the percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Pacific region that report Valium and Xanax are commonly diverted and abused in their areas are 73.7 percent and 44.7 percent, respectively. DAWN data show that the combined number of ED mentions for benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax) increased slightly in the four DAWN reporting cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle) in the Pacific region from 2000 (5,194 mentions), to 2001 (5,314 mentions), to 2002 (5,316 mentions), the most recent year for which such data are available. TEDS data show an increase in the number of treatment admissions within the region for prescription depressants (tranquilizers and sedatives) such as Valium and Xanax. According to TEDS, the number of treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Pacific region for depressants increased from 2000 (902 admissions), to 2001 (1,081 admissions), to 2002 (1,128 admissions).

The diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical stimulants, particularly methylphenidate (Ritalin), are a concern to law enforcement and public health agencies; however, the threat posed to the region by stimulant diversion and abuse appears to be lower than that of prescription narcotics and depressants. NDTS 2004 data show that only 40.8 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Pacific region report that Ritalin is commonly diverted and illicitly used in their areas. DAWN and TEDS data regarding the number of ED mentions and treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities for prescription stimulants are not available.

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