New York Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Substance Abuse
and Rehabilitation Treatment Situation
New York City has a historical association with drug trafficking for more than
half a decade. The State is home to numerous ethnic groups; it is surrounded
by a large coast line, multitude of freeways and serves numerous major cities
within a few hours drive. This places New York as an ideal location for drug
trafficking and this opportunity has not missed by many drug cartels
Cocaine
Addiction
The primary drug traffickers who control the cocaine smuggling and distribution
are the Colombian and Mexicans. These traffickers bring in large quantities
of cocaine in the State, where it is re packaged and distributed through various
networks both across and out of the State. New York is the hub for the majority
of cocaine smuggled into the NE corner and also into Canada. The majority of
cocaine arrives via the multitude of freeways in automobiles, vans and trucks.
At the retail level, the cocaine is distributed by various smaller groups including
gangs and other ethnic minorities, who
all work for the hierarchical cartels.
Cocaine abuse is a major problem in all cities in the state. The powder cocaine
is usually converted to crack which is available in all of New York. The majority
of this crack cocaine is found in the inner ghettoes and associated with gang
violence, crime, thefts, murders, inner-city poverty and prostitution.
Heroin Addiction
Heroin is readily available in most cities in NY. The heroin trade has always
been under the control of the Colombian and Dominican organizations operating
in the New York metropolitan area. The majority of heroin is smuggled in from
South American and controlled by the Colombia-based traffickers. Much of the
heroin is brought in via the interstate from Mexico but a fair amount is smuggled
in through the two large NY airports.
Over the last decade, the drug cartels have become sophisticated
and have used ingenious methods of bringing the drug into America. Heroin has
been found packed in furniture, clothes, microscopes, shoes, toupees, and even
animals. The heroin trafficking and abuse problem has increased all over NY.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
Methamphetamine for some reason is not as commonly abused in NY as are the
other drugs. The majority of methamphetamine is brought into NY from the west
coast and the trade is primarily controlled by the drug
cartels. In addition, local methamphetamine laboratories have become popular.
Despite the ban of ephedrine from cough supplies, these clandestine laboratories
still manage to get the chemicals necessary for synthesis of the methamphetamine.
Because of the large size of the State and numerous empty isolated factories,
methamphetamine factories have been springing up all over the State. However,
law enforcement agencies have been quite productive in eradicating these laboratories
as soon as they spring up.
Club
Drugs
New York continues to experience high levels of importation, trafficking,
and abuse of MDMA (Ecstasy). The majority of club drugs are smuggled in from
Europe and Israel. However, Canada has recently emerged as a significant source
for MDMA production. MDMA is also smuggled in from other States using couriers
and parcel post services. Because of the large use by college students, the
club drug trade is now being controlled by various drug organizations.
Besides MDMA, other club drugs, such as GHB, ketamine, PCP and steroids, while
available, are less prominent problems in New York City.
Marijuana Addiction
Most of the marijuana entering the New York City is from Mexico. The drug
is smuggled in automobiles, trucks, campers and US parcel post service. Law
enforcement agencies report a continued increase in the shipment of marijuana
from Jamaica, which is transported and distributed by trafficking organizations,
in addition, the pure variety of marijuana known as BC bud, is increasingly
being smuggled in from Canada.
With a recent increase in immigrants from Somalia, Khat has become a common
substance of abuse. Khat is a plant leaf which is chewed and can produce mild
euphoria. Awareness by the law enforcement agencies has led to seizures of tons
of the product recently.
Pharmaceutical
Drugs
Current investigations indicate that abuse of hydrocodone products such as
Vicodin, hydrocodone oxycontin, benzodiazepines methadone, xanax and oxycontin
continues to be a problem in New York. The major methods of obtaining these
drugs are forged prescriptions, pharmacy break INS, “doctor shopping,
employee theft and via the internet. The pharmaceutical drug market has also
been infiltrated by fake pills, the majority which are smuggled in from Mexico.
Substance
Abuse Prevention
DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams were established in response to the overwhelming
problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation.
In March 2005, the METs prioritized investigations to target and dismantle methamphetamine
trafficking organizations and clandestine laboratory operators. In addition
DEA Regional Enforcement Teams were 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.
Money Laundering
New York City is one of the world’s financial capitals, presenting numerous
options for the movement and laundering of drug proceeds. Every type of banking
is available in NY to mask illegal activity. Additionally, numerous large scale
money shipment and/or money laundering organizations are active in New York,
servicing national and international drug organizations. These transportation/laundering
organizations regularly conduct thousands of cash trafficking groups. Despite
the extensive financial systems available in New York, many trafficking organizations
choose to physically smuggle bulk cash out NY City.
Drug Laws
DPA is headquartered in New York City and is intensely involved in drug reform
campaigns in the city and state. In 2005, DPA won a significant victory in the
passage of a bill that eliminates criminal penalties for the possession of naloxone
or Narcan—an opioid antagonist that is life saving for someone who has
overdosed on morphine or a related opiate. The bill also requires the Department
of Public Health to track and report overdose deaths in New York.
This year, The DPA is trying to pass a bill that will allow for up to ten syringes
to be sold in a pharmacy without a prescription.
New York Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Categories
