Drug and Alcohol Addiction Problems, Laws and Substance Abuse Issues,
Treatment and Rehabilitation in Wisconsin
For the most part, the drug situation in the state of Wisconsin has been stable
over the past decade. However, the drug trade is still on going and worse in
the eastern part of the state. All illict drugs are available in the state and
include heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. Marijuana remains the
most widely abused drug in the state. With Illinois as a neighbor, there has
been a steady influx of methamphetamine in to the state. Drug transportation
is typically done via the vast array of interstates and US parcel postal services.
On the streets of the inner cities,
the drug trade is controlled by various street and motorcycle gangs. Associated
with the drug trade has also been a major increase in gang related violence,
crime, thefts and prostitution.
Cocaine
Addiction
Cocaine and crack are widely available in Wisconsin. The majority of cocaine
is smuggled into the state by Mexican drug organizations. The cocaine is smuggled
in via automobiles, vans and campers. A significant amount of cocaine is smuggled
in from Florida, NY, Boston, Detroit and Chicago. Once the cocaine is brought
into the state, it is converted to crack and sold on the street. The street
trade is controlled by a number of drug organizations. Recent seizures indicate that the
cocaine is smuggled into large amounts and despite the diminished potency; the
drug trade is still very lucrative.
Heroin Addiction
Heroin abuse has infact declined in the state of Wisconsin despite, the low
price, more potency and easy availability. The heroin is chiefly smuggled in
from Mexico but the Asian and Columbian variety is still available in the inner
cities. The majority of the heroin drug trade is controlled by the Mexicans
and Nigerians. At the street level, the sell of heroin is controlled by street
and motorcycle gangs. Over the past decade, hospital data indicate that heroin
addiction and related medical problems contribute to a significant number of
emergency room admissions.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
The use of methamphetamine continues to increase. Recent seizures indicate
that a new generation of younger individuals and females are increasingly being
addicted to this drug. The majority of methamphetamine is smuggled in from Chicago,
NY, California and even Texas. The drug is smuggled in cars using secret hidden
compartments. The US parcel service has also been utilized to smuggle the drug
into the state.
The locally manufactured methamphetamine has diminished in recent years. Since
the State banned the availability of ephedrine, most of the clandestine laboratories
have closed. However, few sporadic laboratories do continue to operate using
impure and toxic chemicals.
Club
Drugs
Club drugs have become popular among college students. The majority of colleges
and universities in the state have been infiltrated with drug traffickers who
sell club drugs. All types of club drugs are available including MDMA, GHB,
LSD and ketamine. The majority of the club drug trade is controlled by the Asian
gangs. With increased law enforcement and monitoring, the use of club drugs
has not been as high as that in other states. The club drugs are smuggled in
from Chicago, NY, California and even Europe.
Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana remains the most readily available and widely used drug in Wisconsin.
The majority of marijuana is smuggled in from the south and California. Because
of the vast expanse of forest land, drug traffickers are increasingly using
public and federal land to grow marijuana. Numerous farm seizures have occurred
in the past decade, but the sophisticated indoor plots have been difficult to
eradicate. Marijuana is also smuggled in from Canada.
Prescription
Drugs
The abuse of pharmaceutical drugs continues to rise at an exponential rate.
The most commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs include oxycontin, hydrocodone
and Xanax. 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 Wisconsin from California, 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.
Transportation Threat
Having a close border with Canada has made Wisconsin very vulnerable to drug
trafficking. Numerous drug traffickers operate in the Detroit green bay area
and smuggling of BC Bud, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical drugs across into
Wisconsin is frequent. Recent seizures indicate that the Canadian border has
become popular for smuggling drugs into Wisconsin.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Associated with drug trafficking is money laundering. Cash-intensive businesses,
such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs, shipping industry, casinos and tourism
have all at some time been exposed to “drug” money. The legislature
has endorsed laws to monitor all financial exchanges and banks are required
by law to notify authorities of large transfer of money.
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.
The Chicago Field Division has combined with Wisconsin agencies to combat
high purity heroin that had recently appeared in the Milwaukee. The task force
is comprised of representatives from DEA, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement
(DNE), the Milwaukee Police Department and is funded through a High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant
Drug Laws
The current Wisconsin fiscal crisis has increased the need for State to find
alternative methods for reducing expenditures. State budget surpluses are virtually
non-existent and, in order to avoid deficit spending, the state has decided
to limit incarceration of non violent drug offenders.
In the state of Wisconsin, the fiscal crisis is particularly severe—state
prisons are extremely over-capacity despite the fact that their Department of
Corrections budget is one of the largest of all state agencies.
The State legislature has already focused on drug
treatment programs rather than incarceration- a program which has
proven highly effective in reducing costs and prison populations in other states
such as Maryland, Washington, and California. The Drug Policy Alliance is trying
to pass a bill in the state that will
1. Permit, and in some cases require, nonviolent offenders charged with an offense
related to the person’s use of drugs to be provided substance abuse treatment
as an alternative to prosecution or incarceration.
2.) Authorize treatment in lieu of revocation of probation, parole, or extended
supervision.
Wisconsin Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Categories
