Drug and Alcohol Addiction Problems, Laws and Substance Abuse Issues,
Treatment and Rehabilitation in West Virginia
West Virginia is a state with large rural areas, mountains and an expanse of
highways. This ideal geographical location has become a heaven for drug traffickers.
Despite being a moderately poor state, the use of cocaine, methamphetamine and
marijuana are on the increase. Almost all types of club and pharmaceutical drugs
are abused by the younger generation of addicts. The illicit drugs are smuggled
in from Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY, Washington and Chicago. Associated with
the illicit drug trade has been a corresponding rise in gang violence, crime,
and money laundering.
Cocaine
Addiction
Cocaine is widely available in WV. It is a widely abused drug in most inner
cities and towns in WV. The cocaine is smuggled in from NY, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Chicago and Boston. Once the cocaine is brought in, it is converted into crack
cocaine and sold on the street. The major cocaine trade is controlled by the
Mexican drug cartels. The large Hispanic migrant population is also involved
in the local distribution of cocaine.
Heroin
Addiction
Heroin is not a widely drug abused in WV. Despite the decrease in cost and
good purity, there are less users of heroin even in the inner cities. The majority
of heroin is black tar and smuggled in from Mexico. The heroin is sold in the
inner cities by local gangs. The majority of heroin is brought in private cars
and vans.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
Both locally manufactured and smuggled methamphetamine is available in the
state. Over the past decade, locally manufactured methamphetamine was produced
by numerous clandestine laboratories located all over the sate. The new laws
which prevented the sale of ephedrine, quickly led to a demise of these laboratories.
Locally manufactured amphetamine has been all but eradicated. The smuggled in
variety accounts for the major illicit drug market. Methamphetamine is smuggled
in from NY, Philadelphia, Chicago, Florida and even as far as Texas. The large
rural area and sparse population has led to a difficulty in law enforcement
of smuggled methamphetamine.
Club
Drugs
The use of club drugs is on the increase in West Virginia. MDMA (ecstasy)
is the most commonly abused club drugs. The abuse of these drugs is mainly at
colleges and universities. Recent seizures indicate that the spread of club
drugs is affecting younger teenagers. After MDMA, GHB and LSD are also abused
but in much smaller amounts. 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. The majority of club drugs are smuggled
in from NY, Canada, California and Texas.
Marijuana Addiction
Both locally and smuggled marijuana are highly abused in West Virginia. Although
one of the poorest state in the nation, it ranks as one of the top growers of
marijuana in the Nation. The mountainous region, increasing rural area and vast
forest land have led the drug trafficker to cultivate marijuana in hard to detect
places. West Virginia supplies the entire state with its home grown marijuana.
However, Mexican and Canadian marijuana are still prevalent and continue to
be smuggled in large quantities. The state has established numerous agencies
whose sole job is eradication of marijuana plots.
Pharmaceutical
Diversion
The abuse of pharmaceutical drugs continues to rise at an exponential rate
in West Virginia. The most commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs include oxycontin,
hydrocodone,
methadone, diazepam, Lortab and Xanax.
Oxycontin
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 Iowa 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. West Virginia leads
the nation in methadone-related deaths per capita, and has the fastest-growing
rate of methadone overdoses.
Money Laundering
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.
Substance
Abuse 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