West Region

National Drug Intelligence Center
Pharmaceuticals Drug Threat Assessment
November 2004

According to NDTS 2004 data, 0.0 percent of the state and local law enforcement agencies in the West region report that pharmaceuticals are the greatest drug threat to their areas. Additionally, 0.0 percent of the agencies reported that diverted pharmaceuticals contribute most to violent crime in their areas; however, a few agencies (0.2%) report that diverted pharmaceuticals are the drugs that contribute most to property crime in their areas. Although in comparison with illicit drugs, the threat posed to the West by diverted pharmaceuticals is relatively small, law enforcement agencies in the West region report ready availability and frequent abuse of prescription drugs.

The diversion and abuse of prescription narcotics such as oxycodones (OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan), hydrocodones (Lorcet and Vicodin) and, to a lesser extent, hydromorphones (Dilaudid) are significant and increasing threats to the West region. NDTS 2004 data indicate a high percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the West region report that oxycodones (78.1%) and hydrocodones (71.1%) are commonly diverted and abused in their areas. A smaller percentage of agencies (11.3%) report that hydromorphones are commonly diverted and abused in their areas.

Regional drug prevalence data are not available; however, drug consequence data show a significant 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 one DAWN reporting city in the West region (Denver) fluctuated but remained significant from 2000 (396 mentions), to 2001 (531 mentions), to 2002 (395 mentions). Furthermore, TEDS data show that admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the West region for "Other Opiates" (nonheroin opiates/synthetics) increased from 2000 (1,116 admissions), to 2001 (1,219 admissions), to 2002 (1,380 admissions), the most recent year for which data are available.

Traffic Stop Results in Large Codeine Seizure

On May 26, 2004, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper arrested a 26-year-old male and a 27-year-old male and seized 13 gallons of promethazine cough syrup with codeine during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 70. The trooper initially stopped the vehicle for speeding. During routine questioning, the driver advised the trooper that he and his passenger were returning to Kentucky after a visit to Las Vegas. The trooper obtained permission to run a check on the driver's Kentucky license. The trooper discovered that the driver's license had been suspended and took the driver into custody. The trooper then called for backup and requested and received consent to search the vehicle. The troopers discovered a snow cone-making machine and 13 snow cone syrup containers in the trunk. The troopers became suspicious after noticing that 10 of the syrup containers had been opened and resealed. The passenger indicated that he had purchased the snow cone maker and syrup in California. The driver and passenger were detained while a sample of the liquid was taken to a laboratory for immediate testing. When test results identified the substance as codeine, both were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Source: Utah Highway Patrol.

Law enforcement survey data as well as DAWN and TEDS data indicate that diversion and abuse of prescription depressants are significant threats to the West region. NDTS 2004 data show that the percentages of state and local law enforcement agencies in the West region that report Valium and Xanax are commonly diverted and abused in their areas are 65.5 percent and 62.9 percent, respectively. DAWN data show that the combined number of ED mentions for benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax) fluctuated but remained significant in the one DAWN reporting city (Denver) in the West region from 2000 (568 mentions), to 2001 (644 mentions), to 2002 (504 mentions), the most recent year for which such data are available. TEDS data indicate increases 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 West region for depressants increased from 2000 (365 admissions), to 2001 (373 admissions), to 2002 (640 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 52.3 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the West 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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