Outlook

Methamphetamine likely will remain the most serious drug threat to Utah. The abuse of the drug will continue to remain high throughout the state, increasingly nominally. Violence associated with distribution and abuse of methamphetamine will remain relatively high in Utah and will likely increase as rival distributors compete for turf. Local methamphetamine producers will continue to use violence to protect their laboratories. In addition, methamphetamine producers will continue to illegally procure essential and precursor chemicals despite stringent state and federal regulations and reporting requirements. Similarly, as availability of red phosphorus decreases, the use of hypophosphorous acid in the production of methamphetamine may increase throughout Utah. Mexican criminal groups will remain the dominant transporters and wholesale and midlevel distributors of the drug in the state, while Mexican and Caucasian local independent dealers continue to be the primary retail distributors of methamphetamine in Utah.

Heroin will continue to be a drug threat to Utah. Mexican black tar heroin and brown powdered heroin will remain the most prevalent types available throughout the state. Both types of heroin will be increasingly available in ounce and multiounce quantities in the metropolitan areas of the state, primarily Salt Lake City. Mexican criminal groups will remain the predominant transporters and midlevel distributors of the drug across the state, while street gangs will continue to dominate the retail distribution of the drug in the metropolitan areas of Utah.

Cocaine will remain a relatively significant drug threat to Utah. The abuse of cocaine likely will continue to decrease as abusers continue to switch to methamphetamine. Deaths in which cocaine is a factor also may decrease with the reduced abuse of the drug. The drug will remain readily available in the metropolitan areas of Utah. Retail distributors, primarily street gangs, and local abusers will continue to commit violent crimes in Utah. Mexican criminal groups will continue to dominate the transportation and wholesale distribution of powdered cocaine in the state. Street gangs will remain the primary retail distributors of powdered and crack cocaine throughout the state, primarily in its metropolitan areas. Local independent dealers also will continue to distribute retail quantities of powdered cocaine in Utah.

Marijuana will remain a drug threat to Utah. Marijuana will continue to be the most widely abused and available illicit drug in the state. The availability of domestic and Canada-produced high potency marijuana will increase to meet demand for the drug in some areas of the state, primarily Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo. Similarly, indoor grows that produce high potency marijuana will increasingly be encountered and seized throughout Utah, generally in metropolitan areas. Caucasian criminal groups and local independent dealers will remain the primary producers, transporters, and distributors of high potency marijuana in Utah, while Mexican criminal groups will continue to dominate the transportation and distribution of marijuana produced in Mexico and California.

MDMA will become a more serious drug threat to Utah, as law enforcement authorities and healthcare providers indicate that it is becoming a "gateway" drug--a drug that may lead individuals to the abuse of other illicit drugs--among youth in the state. The drug will become increasingly "mainstreamed" (perceived as safe or innocuous). The median age of Utah's population (26) coupled with the demographic of the typical MDMA abuser also may contribute to the increased abuse of the drug in the state. GHB and LSD will remain low drug threats to Utah due to the limited abuse of the drugs. The drugs' availability will continue to be limited to some colleges and universities, nightclubs, and raves. Some distributors of GHB may begin to produce the drug in the state in order to increase their revenues.

Diverted pharmaceuticals will remain a significant abuse problem in Utah. The ready availability of pharmaceuticals over the Internet will likely lead to increased availability in the state as abusers seek alternative methods of acquiring these drugs. Increased abuse of pharmaceuticals will likely lead to increased violence, including pharmacy robberies and home invasions, as abusers and distributors attempt to procure drugs.

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