NCJ Number
217530
Date Published
June 2006
Length
88 pages
Annotation
This 2006 report presents an analysis of the most significant drug-related threats facing Washington State.
Abstract
The analysis indicates that the most significant drug threat facing the Washington State continues to be methamphetamine. The rate of clandestine methamphetamine laboratory seizures in Washington remains one of the highest in the Nation, although the number of reported seizures has decreased in recent years. The decrease in laboratory seizures has been attributed to law enforcement, legislative, and public awareness efforts. Despite these efforts, the use and addiction of methamphetamine is widespread throughout the State and its high availability, purity, and low cost are reasons for substantial concern. In addition to poor health outcomes, methamphetamine use is typically associated with other crimes, such as identity theft and child abuse/neglect. Evidence indicates that there is an increase in methamphetamine importation from other States, which offsets the decrease in laboratory seizures. Stolen and diverted precursors to methamphetamine production continue to be a problem and there are indications that ephedrine smuggling from Canada has increased. Additionally, research indicates that larger quantities of pseudoephedrine are being smuggled into the State from Mexico. Despite this focus on the threat of methamphetamine, marijuana continues to be the most readily available and most widely abused drug in Washington State. It is widely cultivated throughout Washington and is also smuggled in from Canada. Powdered cocaine is also readily available throughout Washington State and is more frequently abused than crack cocaine. Indeed, crack cocaine is generally only available inside the major metropolitan areas of Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma. Heroin, particularly in the urban areas of the State, also poses a significant threat as the drug is readily available and its abuse is associated with a host of problems, particularly violence. Other dangerous drugs, with the exception of MDMA and diverted prescription pharmaceuticals, present a low but growing threat to the State. Tables, figures, appendixes