Outlook

Because of its ready availability and high rate of abuse, heroin, primarily South American, will remain the greatest drug threat to Massachusetts. Colombian and Dominican criminal groups operating in Massachusetts will continue to use their established supply networks in New York City to obtain wholesale quantities of heroin for subsequent distribution to heroin retailers in Massachusetts and other states. The greater Boston area, Holyoke, Springfield, and Worcester will remain distribution centers for cities in Massachusetts and in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Cocaine will remain an equally serious drug threat to Massachusetts because it is readily available, frequently abused, and commonly associated with violent crime. Colombian and Dominican criminal groups likely will remain the dominant wholesale cocaine distributors, and African American, Asian, Caucasian, Dominican, Jamaican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic criminal groups and gangs will remain the dominant retail distributors.

Marijuana, primarily produced in Mexico and in southern California, Arizona, and Texas, will remain the most widely available and commonly abused drug in the state. Mexican criminal groups using traditional conveyances such as commercial trucks and private vehicles will remain the primary transporters of marijuana into Massachusetts. The availability of marijuana produced locally as well as in Canada likely will remain stable and may increase if demand for higher potency marijuana increases.

ODDs such as MDMA, GHB, LSD, and ketamine likely will continue to gain in popularity among teenagers and young adults who perceive these drugs to be less harmful than other illicit drugs. Nightclubs, raves, and college campuses will remain popular venues for the distribution of ODDs. Caucasian criminal groups and independent dealers will continue to be the primary retail distributors of ODDs followed by African American, Asian, and Hispanic gangs. Pharmaceutical diversion and abuse will likely continue at current levels.

Methamphetamine production, distribution, and abuse are not likely to present a serious threat to Massachusetts. The drug rarely is produced, distributed, or abused in Massachusetts, and there are no indications that this trend will change.

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