Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment and Substance Abuse Rehabilitation
Situation in Wyoming
Law enforcement data indicate that drug trafficking is not in a crises situation
in Wyoming. Marijuana, heroin and crack cocaine are the major drugs trafficked
in the state and the majority of the illicit drug trade is controlled by the
Mexican Mafia. The bulk of drugs are smuggled in from Colorado, California and
Chicago. Methamphetamine is the most abused drug in the state. Cocaine is mostly
abused in the inner city areas but the demand for heroin has been on the low
side.
Cocaine
Addiction
The majority of powder cocaine is converted into crack cocaine and available
in the major cities. The demand for crack cocaine has significantly decreased
in the last decade even though the prices have not increased.
Heroin
Addiction
Despite the easy availability, low price and increased purity, the demand
for heroin has steadily decreased over the past decade. The majority of heroin
is smuggled in from Mexico via Utah and Colorado. Local street gangs distribute
the heroin in the inner cities.
Methamphetamine
Addiction
Methamphetamine use continues to dominate the drug scene in Wyoming. Both
locally made methamphetamine and the smuggled variety is available in the inner
cities and towns and represents a serious drug threat to Wyoming. In recent
years, methamphetamine arrests have exceeded arrests for all other drugs; however,
clandestine methamphetamine laboratory seizures have begun to decline. Methamphetamine
abuse is of great concern to Wyoming law enforcement due to its association
with violent crime, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Club
Drugs
Club drugs such as GHB and MDMA can be found in Wyoming, and most come from
sources of supply in Colorado. Although not as popular, LSD and psilocybin mushrooms
are popular “recreational drugs” on college campuses. The club drug
trade is basically controlled by gangs. Recent seizures indicate the drugs
are increasingly being smuggled in via the US parcel post services.
Marijuana
Addiction
Marijuana is widely abused in Wyoming. Most of the marijuana encountered is
of Mexican origin, although higher potency marijuana from British Columbia,
Canada, can be found as well. Additionally, marijuana is grown in remote outdoor
areas of the state and in smaller indoor grows.
Pharmaceutical
Drugs
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 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 Wyoming 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 Prevention
Recently 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 addition, DEA Regional Enforcement Teams were designed 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 State of Wyoming also participates in the Rocky Mountain HIDTA (High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area) to monitor the highways for drug traffickers.