NCJ Number
203917
Date Published
August 2001
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report describes the status and outlook of the drug threat to Minnesota.
Abstract
Drug abuse is a growing problem in Minnesota. Minnesota’s largely unmanned northern border and shorelines are ideal for smuggling contraband into the State. Among the most prevalent drugs in Minnesota are cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Following an executive summary and an overview of the drug threat to Minnesota, each chapter presents an overview of the five most salient drug threats to the State, offering information on the rate of local abuse; local availability; violence associated with the drug; and the production, transportation, and distribution of the drug. Cocaine represents a significant threat to Minnesota. The number of treatment admissions per 100,000 mentioning cocaine increased from 107 in 1993 to 127 in 1998, which exceeded the national average of 109. Cocaine-related violence is common because street gangs and Mexican criminal groups dominate the transportation and distribution of cocaine in Minnesota. Methamphetamine presents another significant threat to Minnesota, surpassing cocaine as the number one threat in some areas of the State. Methamphetamine is available throughout Minnesota and between 1997 and 1998, drug task force arrests for methamphetamine increased 10 percent and seizures of the drug nearly tripled from 33 to 96 kilograms. One of the most serious concerns of law enforcement is the potential for methamphetamine-related violence. Although heroin poses a low threat to Minnesota, its use is rising in the State. One of the most salient problems surrounding heroin use and distribution is its association with gang violence. Gang migration from Chicago has gradually increased the availability of heroin and associated criminal activities. Marijuana is the most widely available and most frequently abused drug in the State. Treatment admissions for marijuana accounted for 22.7 percent of all treatment admissions in 1999. Although violence is not usually directly associated with marijuana abuse, 44 percent of males arrested for violent crimes in Minneapolis tested positive for marijuana. Other dangerous drugs posing a threat to Minnesota include MDMA and GHB, which are popular among young people in the State. These other drugs are becoming increasingly available in Minnesota and have been linked with several deaths. Predictions on the future outlook for the drug threat to Minnesota are offered. Tables, figures, charts, sources