Drugs in the United States: Alabama

State Facts Population: 4,447,100 Law Enforcement Officers: 10,409 State Prison Population: 26,728 Probation Population: 41,757 Violent Crime Rate National Ranking: 21

2001 Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 357.9 kgs. Heroin: 0. kgs. Methamphetamine: 17.2 kgs. Marijuana: 332.6 kgs. Clandestine Laboratories: 163 (DEA, state, and local)

The availability and abuse of major drugs continue to increase in Alabama. Conventional drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana comprise the bulk of drugs transported in and out of the state. Although Colombian, Mexican, and Caribbean DTOs are most commonly responsible for the transportation and distribution of the cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, there are local DTOs participating in area distribution as well. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are also supplying methamphetamine on a limited basis through their own networks within the state.

Cocaine: Although most drug seizures and arrests are attributed to marijuana, cocaine hydrochloride and crack cocaine continue to be the largest drug threat in Alabama. A large percentage of Alabama’s cocaine originates from Central and South American drug cartels and is transported from sources in California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Wholesale levels of cocaine are sold in hydrochloride form to avoid the harsh federal sentencing guidelines associated with crack cocaine. Generally, it is the street-level distributors that cook the cocaine hydrochloride into crack cocaine.

Heroin: Heroin found in Alabama is available in a purer form that can be smoked or snorted and is also becoming more affordable which is making the drug more attractive to new users. The number of heroin exhibits submitted for analysis is not of epidemic proportions but when considering the treatment admission rates there is a noticeable increase in heroin abusers. The rise in admitted abusers is a reflection of the lower cost of heroin.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is readily available and widely manufactured, trafficked and used throughout Alabama. It competes with marijuana as the “drug of choice” in rural areas of Alabama. Bulk shipments are supplied by sources in Mexico with transportation routes through California, Arizona, and Texas. Locally manufactured methamphetamine is produced in rural clandestine labs.Smaller quantities via the “Nazi” and “Red Phosphorous” methods are produced with ingredients obtained from convenience, hardware and agricultural stores. Chemicals not so accessible, such as anhydrous ammonia, are stolen from fixed tanks on farms or at gas companies. According to statistics from the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), the number of methamphetamine labs in Alabama continues to steadily increase.

Club Drugs: “Club Drug” abuse and distribution among young people is on the rise in Alabama. Increases in arrests, overdoses and seizures of these designer drugs have been reported and indicate a trend toward increased availability and trafficking of Ecstasy, LSD, and Ketamine. MDMA, LSD, GHB, and Ketamine are readily available throughout the state, more commonly found on college campuses and at rave venues. GHB and MDMA have emerged as the club drugs of choice and the end-users are young Caucasians at all economic levels but users are particularly college students and rave participants. Alabama’s stateside sources of supply include Miami, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Marijuana: Marijuana use in Alabama is on the increase, especially among youth ranging from ages 18-20. While cost and availability is contributed to the increased abuse, there is a belief among those buying and selling that there are little consequences if apprehended. Although marijuana is not seen as a dangerous drug when compared to other drugs, it does cause addiction, primarily psychological, which is difficult to treat. Statistics show that hard drug users almost always started with marijuana as their first drug experience.

Other Drugs: Pharmaceutical drugs such as Codeine, Hydrocodonel, Methadone, Nembutal, Percodan, Percocet, Valium, Vicodin, and Xanax are abused. Oxycodone or Oxycontin has penetrated the illicit drug market at an alarming rate and in some areas of Alabama account for more deaths than any other pharmaceutical drug. The illegal diversion, distribution, and abuse of oxycodone products, particularly OxyContin, have become a significant threat in Alabama. There has been an increase in the number of pharmacy burglaries and robberies as abusers and distributors seek to obtain this and other prescription drugs. Significant profit potential makes OxyContin attractive to both illicit distributors and users.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. There have been 348 deployments completed resulting in 14,794 arrests of violent drug criminals as of June 2002. There have been eight MET deployments in the State of Alabama since the inception of the program: Selma; Pritchard; Alabaster; Enterprise; Gadsden; Anniston; Bessemer, and Green/Tuscaloosa Counties. These deployments resulted in 189 arrests and the seizure of .14 pounds of cocaine, 9.7 pounds of crack cocaine, 4.8 pounds of marijuana, and 3.4 pounds of methamphetamine. Also seized were 10 vehicles, 34 weapons and over $82,000 in U.S. currency and property.

Special Topics: On December 6, 2001, the ONDCP named the Gulf Coast HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) the Outstanding HIDTA of the Nation for 2001.

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