Southwest Region

National Drug Intelligence Center
Pharmaceuticals Drug Threat Assessment
November 2004

According to NDTS 2004 data, less than 1 percent (0.3%) of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southwest report that diverted pharmaceuticals are the greatest drug threat to their areas. Similarly, just 0.3 percent of all responding agencies in the Southwest report that diverted pharmaceuticals contribute most to both property and violent crimes in their areas.

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 Southwest region. NDTS 2004 data indicate a high percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southwest region report that hydrocodones (64.6%) and oxycodones (42.1%) are commonly diverted and abused in their areas. A smaller percentage of agencies (4.9%) report that hydromorphones are commonly diverted and abused in their areas.

Regional drug prevalence data are not available; however, drug consequence data show increases in the number of ED mentions and treatment admissions for prescription narcotics. DAWN data indicate that the combined number of ED mentions for "Narcotic Analgesics" (prescription narcotics) for the two DAWN reporting cities in the Southwest region (Dallas and Phoenix) increased from 2000 (1,282 mentions), to 2001 (1,717 mentions), to 2002 (1,736 mentions). Furthermore, TEDS data show that admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Southwest region for "Other Opiates" (nonheroin opiates/synthetics) increased from 2000 (924 admissions), to 2001 (1,476 admissions), to 2002 (1,761 admissions), the most recent year for which data are available.

Law enforcement survey data as well as TEDS data indicate that prescription depressant diversion and abuse are increasing threats to the Southwest region; however, DAWN data have fluctuated over the past few years. NDTS 2004 data show that the percentages of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southwest region that report Xanax and Valium are commonly diverted and abused in their areas are 67.6 percent and 73.4 percent, respectively. TEDS data show an increase in the number of treatment admissions within the region for prescription depressants (tranquilizers and sedatives) such as Xanax and Valium. According to TEDS, the number of treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Southwest region for depressants increased from 2000 (519 admissions), to 2001 (709 admissions), then remained stable in 2002 (708 admissions). However, DAWN data show that the combined number of ED mentions for benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium) fluctuated in the two DAWN reporting cities (Dallas and Phoenix) in the Southwest region from 2000 (2,246 mentions), to 2001 (2,834 mentions), to 2002 (2,511 mentions), the most recent year for which such data are available.

Youth Arrested for Transporting Pharmaceutical Depressant From Mexico

On April 27, 2004, officers from the Gilbert Police Department arrested a 16-year-old female and charged her with possession, transport of a prescription drug for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia. On April 24, 2004, the girl and a friend traveled with the girl's parents to Mexico where the girl allegedly purchased 2,900 tablets of carisoprodol, a drug legitimately prescribed in the United States to treat muscle pain, spasms, and stiffness usually under the brand name Soma. The girl allegedly purchased the drug with her own money as well as money provided by other teenagers who had placed orders with her for the drug. Upon returning to the United States, the girl distributed the tablets to the teenagers who subsequently sold them at fast food restaurants, in a grocery store parking lot, and at friends' houses. Local law enforcement officers seized 1,365 of the tablets purchased by the girl. As a result of a joint investigation conducted by Gilbert and Mesa police, seven other teenagers aged 15 to 17, including the friend who went to Mexico, were charged with possession of a prescription drug or possession of a prescription drug for sale. Local authorities learned about the drug purchase from information provided by a teacher to local school resource officers.

Source: Gilbert Police Department.

The diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical stimulants, particularly methylphenidate (Ritalin), is 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 42.9 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southwest 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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