Drug Threat Overview

Ice methamphetamine poses the most significant drug threat in the Northwest HIDTA region. It dominates the region's drug markets and has emerged as the most prevalent drug for treatment admissions. Ice methamphetamine use is widespread, adversely affecting the citizenry of the HIDTA region. According to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, most drug treatment admissions in the counties that compose the Northwest HIDTA region are for methamphetamine abuse; these treatment admissions consume significant public health resources. Moreover, the Washington State Attorney General's Office reports a significant increase in methamphetamine-related child dependency cases, largely the result of child abuse or neglect by parents who are addicted to methamphetamine--fewer than 30 percent of methamphetamine-addicted parents regain custody of their children as a result of continued addiction or clinical depression associated with methamphetamine addiction.

Marijuana is readily available and widely abused in the Northwest HIDTA region. Domestically produced high-potency marijuana is the most prevalent type; marijuana is produced in the region from cannabis that is cultivated throughout the area at indoor and outdoor grow sites. High-potency Canadian marijuana also is available, but to a lesser extent. Additionally, commercial-grade Mexican marijuana is present to a limited extent in drug markets throughout the region.

Cocaine (primarily powder cocaine), heroin, other dangerous drugs (ODDs), and diverted pharmaceuticals are also available in the HIDTA region. Crack is distributed primarily in major metropolitan areas such as Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. Mexican black tar heroin is the predominant type of heroin distributed in the region; it is usually sold in larger cities. The HIDTA region is a major transshipment center for MDMA manufactured in Canada and destined for Seattle and other U.S. cities. MDMA seizures in the region are high--in 2006 MDMA seizures in the HIDTA region accounted for approximately 36.7 percent of the total MDMA dosage units seized nationwide. Abuse of diverted pharmaceuticals, particularly prescription narcotics such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and methadone, has increased. Moreover, prescription narcotics (usually detected in combination with other substances) were the most common drugs identified in drug-involved deaths in 2006 in Seattle.

To Top      To Contents     To Previous Page      To Next Page

To Publications Page     To Home Page