ARCHIVED Text Version PDF Version To Publication Page To Home Page
|
|
Title:New Hampshire Drug Threat Assessment |
|
Contents |
||||
Cocaine Marijuana |
Heroin Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Methamphetamine
|
Other Dangerous Drugs MDMA Ketamine LSD DXM Diverted Pharmaceuticals |
||
|
||||
List of FiguresFigure 1. New
Hampshire drug-related arrests by county, 1999. |
List of TablesTable 1. Cocaine Prices, New
Hampshire, 1999 |
|||
Executive SummaryThe availability and abuse of powdered and crack cocaine constitute the primary drug threat in New Hampshire. Throughout the state, powdered cocaine is readily available, and purity levels are high. Prices have remained stable although they are high compared to national averages. In addition, crack cocaine is moderately available and is the drug most often associated with violent crime. Massachusetts-based, Dominican criminal groups typically transport powdered cocaine into the state and dominate its wholesale distribution. These groups also convert powdered cocaine into crack. Intelligence reports suggest that these criminal groups are moving into New Hampshire in an effort to control the retail distribution of cocaine. To a lesser extent, powdered cocaine is transported and distributed by users and independent dealers, primarily Caucasians, who purchase the drug in Massachusetts, transport it to New Hampshire, and then use it or sell it to friends and associates. Marijuana is the most widely available and frequently abused drug in New Hampshire. Abuse of marijuana is common in the state, in part, because many communities attach no stigma to its use. Users and independent dealers cultivate marijuana indoors throughout the state and outdoors in the northern areas of the state. In addition, Mexican drug trafficking organizations based in California and the Southwest Border area transport Mexico grown marijuana from the southwestern United States. Mexican marijuana is also transported into the state by loosely organized Caucasian groups who travel frequently to California and Arizona to purchase marijuana. Finally, moderate amounts of marijuana are smuggled into the United States across New Hampshire's 41-mile border with Canada. Heroin abuse is increasing in New Hampshire. High purity, South American heroin is available in the state. Most heroin users are young adults who, because of the availability of high purity heroin, snort or, to a much lesser extent, smoke the drug instead of injecting it. Typically, users and independent dealers travel to distribution centers in Massachusetts to obtain heroin from Dominican criminal groups. Less frequently, these criminal groups transport heroin directly into New Hampshire from distribution centers in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. The threat presented by methamphetamine is still considered minimal, although availability and abuse of the drug appear to be increasing. Most of the methamphetamine available in New Hampshire is produced in Mexico and is transported into the state by Mexican drug trafficking organizations based in California and the Southwest Border area of the United States. Outlaw motorcycle gangs and independent dealers, primarily Caucasians, distribute the drug throughout the state. Production of methamphetamine in New Hampshire is limited; however, the easy access to precursor chemicals from Canada as well as the abundance of isolated, rural areas where laboratories may go undetected may compel criminal groups to establish more methamphetamine production operations in New Hampshire. The availability of MDMA in user quantities is increasing within the state. The drug is popular especially among college students, who use it mostly at dance parties known as raves. Law enforcement officials report rave parties in Dover, Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth. Ketamine is diverted from legitimate sources, often veterinary clinics. There have been no reports of illegal production of ketamine within New Hampshire. The drug is usually sold illegally in New Hampshire through networks of users and their friends and associates; street sales are rare. Ketamine, legitimately used as an animal tranquilizer, is produced in liquid, powder, or pill form. In its liquid form, it can be injected intramuscularly or intravenously, but it also can be made into a tablet or powder through evaporation. LSD continues to grow in popularity, particularly among youth, and is available in blotter form throughout New England; wholesale quantities are occasionally available. Distributors sell LSD at the retail level in pill, capsule, and liquid form. LSD is shipped into New Hampshire through various package and mail delivery services from California. Users and independent dealers most frequently distribute LSD. The most commonly diverted pharmaceuticals throughout New England remain the combination of prescription narcotics and benzodiazepines. According to responses to the NDIC National Drug Threat Survey 2000, diverted pharmaceuticals, especially Ritalin and Percocet, are moderately available in New Hampshire. |
||||
Addresses |
||||
National
Drug Intelligence Center Tel.
(814) 532-4601 |
National
Drug Intelligence Center 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1001 McLean, VA 22102-3840 Tel. (703) 556-8970 |
|||
Web AddressesADNET: http://ndicosa
|
To Top To Contents To Next Page
To Publication Page To Home Page
End of page.