Drug and Alcohol Substance Abuse Treatment and Addiction Rehabilitation
Situation in Missouri
The majority of the illicit drug trade in Missouri is controlled by the Mexican
poly-drug trafficking organizations. All types of illicit drugs are available
in the State and include methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Various
organizations with ties to Texas, Arizona and California continue to traffic
in cocaine and heroin. In addition, small toxic methamphetamine laboratories
are found in all areas of Missouri.
Cocaine
Abuse
Cocaine is readily available throughout Missouri. Recent law enforcement data
indicate that the cocaine abuse has remained steady for the past decade. However,
cocaine is widely available in all the major inner cities. It is primary smuggled
in via automobile, trucks and campers. US parcel post is another method of transfer.
The majority of cocaine comes in from Chicago, NY, LA, Florida and Texas. The
drug trade is basically controlled by the Mexican drug cartels. Once cocaine
reaches the state, it is converted into crack and distributed by street gangs.
An associated problem with cocaine trafficking has been a large increase in
gang related violence, crime, thefts and prostitution.
Heroin
Abuse and Addiction
Mexican heroin is occasionally available in the state and Government data
indicate that its use has in fact been increasing over the past decade. The
majority of heroin
available in the state is from Mexico but with the recent arrival of Asians,
the SE variety has also been seen on the streets. The drug is smuggled in from
Mexico via automobiles, trucks and campers- all with hidden compartments. The
increased purity and decreased price has led to an increase in heroin abuse.
Hospital emergencies continue to report a significant number of medically related
problems associated with heroin abuse.
Crystal
Methamphetamine Abuse
Methamphetamine has become a drug of concern in the state and its abuse has
increased significantly over the past 2 decades. The drug is available in all
counties and is abused by all ethnic groups. The major source of methamphetamine
is Mexico and Columbia. The drug is smuggled in from the South chiefly in automobiles.
Clandestine laboratories have declined all over the state since the Government
banned the availability of ephedrine. Recently the large influx of Hispanic
migrants has helped with the distribution of the drug.
Despite the ban on precursor chemicals, law enforcement continues to encounter
clandestine laboratories all over the state. A major hazard with these unsophisticated
laboratories includes environmental pollution and fire hazard. The very lucrative
methamphetamine trade ($15-20,000 per pound) has led to the establishment of
several violent drug cartels who are not shy of using violence and extortion
to expand their drug trade and creating the need for better drug
and alcohol rehabilitation..
Marijuana
Addiction
Marijuana is readily available throughout Missouri, usually in combination
with cocaine and/or methamphetamine. Marijuana ranks as the second most commonly
abused drug among teenagers. The majority of marijuana is smuggled in from Arizona,
Texas, California, NY and Florida. The wholesale drug trade is controlled by
the Mexican drug cartels. The street distribution of the drug s primarily done
by the large migrant Hispanic population- who have deep roots with the large
drug organizations. The marijuana is usually smuggled in automobile, trucks
and campers. Recent drug seizures indicate that a large amount of locally home
grown marijuana is cultivated throughout the state. The large farming area has
made it difficult to detect the growers. Indoor marijuana plots have been found
in most of rural Missouri. Higher purity Marijuana is also frequently smuggled
in from Canada.
Club
Drugs
There has been a major increase in the use of club drugs in the state of Missouri.
All types of club drugs including MDMA, GHB,
PCP, LSD and ketamine
are available at night parties and rave parties. The majority of colleges and
universities have a moderate supply of club drugs. The majority of club drugs
are smuggled in from NY, Canada, California and Texas. The club drug trade is
basically controlled by Asian gangs. Recent seizures indicate the drugs are
increasingly being smuggled in via the US parcel post services
Prescription
Drug Addiction
The abuse of pharmaceutical drugs continues to rise at an exponential rate.
The most commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs include oxycontin, hydrocodone,
methadone, diazepam, Lortab and Xanax.
Oxycontin
addiction continues the number one prescription drug abuse in the
state. These drugs are primarily obtained via prescription forgeries, “doctor
shopping”, pharmacy break INS and via the internet. Some of the pharmaceutical
drugs are brought into Missouri from Mexico and Southwestern Border cities.
Numerous pain management clinics have opened in every major city in the State
and pose an enormous threat to the communities. These pain management clinics
do injustice to patients by continually prescribing narcotics to addicts.
Substance
Abuse Treatment and Prevention
To counteract the drug problem DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams have been established
in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns
and cities across the nation. In addition, DEA Regional Enforcement Teams have
been developed to augment existing DEA division resources by targeting drug
organizations operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient
local drug law enforcement.
Recently The St. Louis Homicide Initiative was created by DEA St. Louis to
address and combat the city's increase in drug related homicides. The objectives
of this initiative are to identify violent organizations involved in drug trafficking
activity and to develop investigative leads by use of court authorized telephone
intercepts to clear unsolved homicides and related crimes.