NCJ Number
203911
Date Published
May 2003
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This report provides updated information on the strategic assessment of the status and outlook of the drug threat to the State of Massachusetts.
Abstract
Posing significant threats to the safety of the Massachusetts public is the distribution and abuse of illicit drugs and the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. This 2003 report from the National Drug Intelligence Center under the U.S. Department of Justice provides an update to the Massachusetts drug threat assessment. An analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transportation, and distribution and the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society. The assessment included the drugs heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, as well as other dangerous drugs, such as club drugs (i.e., MDMA, GHB, LSD, and ketamine) and diverted pharmaceuticals. Heroin currently poses the most serious drug threat to the State. The heroin is primarily low cost and high purity South American heroin. Cocaine, both powdered and crack, also poses a significant threat to Massachusetts which is readily available, often abused, and frequently associated with violent crime in the State. Marijuana is the most readily available and commonly abused illicit drug in Massachusetts. Methamphetamine production, distribution, and abuse pose a low threat. Lastly, other dangerous drugs, mainly MDMA and diverted pharmaceuticals pose an increasing threat to the State. The future of illicit drugs in the State of Massachusetts sees heroin as remaining the primary drug threat to the State. Cocaine will continue to pose a threat with marijuana remaining readily available and widely abused. Methamphetamine’s threat status will remain low. MDMA will continue to be the most widely distributed and abused club drug and diverted pharmaceuticals, specifically Oxy-Contin, are increasingly available and abused.