NCJ Number
203859
Date Published
July 2003
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report presents a brief update to the status and outlook of the drug threat to Connecticut.
Abstract
The report is divided into seven sections; the first provides an overview of the drug threat to Connecticut followed by five chapters on the most significant drug threats to the State: heroin, cocaine, marijuana, other dangerous drugs, and methamphetamine. The remaining chapter provides predictions on the future outlook of the drug threat to Connecticut. Heroin poses the most significant drug threat to Connecticut. Heroin-related treatment admissions surpassed those for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and amphetamines combined during 2001. Treatment admissions for heroin-related emergencies increased from 16,403 in 1999 to 17,878 in 2001. Information is offered on its price, transportation, and distribution in Connecticut. Although heroin has surpassed cocaine as the most significant threat to Connecticut, cocaine remains a powerful threat to the State and is widely available. Cocaine-related treatment admissions decreased from 6,324 in 1999 to 5,573 in 2001. Cocaine played a part in 75 of the 451 deaths involving drugs in 2001. Marijuana also remains a high threat to Connecticut, with treatment admissions for marijuana increasing from 3,647 in 1999 to 3,782 in 2001. It is the most readily accessible drug in the State; law enforcement officers seized 45.8 kilograms of marijuana in Connecticut during 2002. Generally, Mexican criminal groups dominant the marijuana market in the State and most of the marijuana available in Connecticut is produced in Mexico. Other dangerous drugs also pose a threat to Connecticut. These drugs include club drugs, diverted pharmaceuticals, and hallucinogens. Methamphetamine poses a low threat to Connecticut. Treatment admissions for amphetamine-related emergencies increased from 32 in 1999 to 128 in 2001; no methamphetamine-related deaths were reported in Connecticut during 2002. While methamphetamine laboratory seizures are rare in the State, methamphetamine finds its way to Connecticut from California and other Southwestern States, usually via package delivery services. The outlook for the Connecticut drug threat indicates that heroin will remain the number one problem for the State because of the established connections to suppliers in New York City. Tables, sources