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U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Intelligence Center
Midwest HIDTA Drug Market Analysis 2010
May 2010
NDIC analysts expect Mexican DTOs to continue their dominance over wholesale Mexican methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana distribution in the Midwest HIDTA region. Wholesale methamphetamine availability in the HIDTA is expected to increase in 2010 (as a result of increased production in Mexico); however, availability may outpace demand in smaller cities in the region if Mexicans supply lower potency d,l-methamphetamine rather than d-methamphetamine, as methamphetamine abusers seek a better "high" with cocaine. A sustained supply of lower-purity and/or -potency Mexican methamphetamine will also lead to increased local small-scale production of d-methamphetamine. Cocaine availability is expected to fluctuate but remain at levels sufficient to support demand in most markets. However, sustained cocaine shortages will persist in the St. Louis market area, where heroin availability is expected to increase. The counties surrounding St. Louis will see corresponding increases in heroin abuse and related treatment admissions and overdoses. In addition, if CPD abusers in the HIDTA region are unable to obtain prescription opioids at a low cost, some will switch to heroin, which is increasingly available and relatively inexpensive.
UNCLASSIFIED
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