Drugs in the United States: Kentucky

State Facts Population: 4,041,769 Law Enforcement Officers: 7,996 State Prison Population: 15,964 Probation Population: 18,988 Violent Crime Rate National Ranking: 36

2001 Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 63.9 kgs. Heroin: 10.8 kgs. Methamphetamine: 5.0 kgs. Marijuana: 436.1 kgs. Clandestine Laboratories: 160 (DEA, state, and local)

Throughout the state of Kentucky, diverted pharmaceuticals such as Lorcet, Lortab, and Oxycontin continue to be a major drug problem. Kentucky is also experiencing an explosive growth in the number of methamphetamine laboratories. The first laboratories began showing up in the western part of the state in 1998 and have now rapidly spread eastward. Kentucky is also one of the leading source states for domestically grown marijuana. Cocaine use is increasing in the metropolitan areas of the state. The abuse of club drugs such as ecstasy and GHB has also increased in the Lexington area.

Cocaine: Cocaine is readily available in all the larger metropolitan areas. Cocaine trafficking organizations are comprised of Caucasians, African-Americans, and Hispanics. In some cases, multi-kilos of cocaine arrive directly from the Southwest Border region via vehicle. In other instances, it is obtained from traffickers in large cities such as Chicago or Detroit. Federal Express and UPS have also been utilized by traffickers to import smaller amounts of cocaine. Cocaine abuse is so widespread that it can be obtained at just about any location; bars, nightclubs, restaurants, street sales, and houses.

Heroin: Heroin is extremely rare in the state of Kentucky. When encountered, heroin is usually found in user amounts and sources are in either Cincinnati or Detroit.

Methamphetamine: In-state methamphetamine production has become a significant issue in Kentucky. The number of laboratories seized in Kentucky almost doubled from 66 laboratories in 1999 to 120 laboratories in 2001, leading to greater availability of meth throughout the state. Meth usage among teenagers is significantly higher in Kentucky (12.7%) than the national average (9.1%). Meth is readily available in the Lexington area and is increasing in availability throughout eastern Kentucky. The explosive growth of meth manufacturing is spreading rapidly eastward across Kentucky. Most of the laboratories seized in the eastern part of Kentucky are small, “box” labs, capable of producing an ounce or less at a time. Several individuals working cooperatively to obtain the precursors and equipment operate these labs and then share the final product. Mexican-produced meth is also available in the Lexington area. The source area for Mexican methamphetamine is California and it is usually smuggled into Lexington via express mail services such as UPS or FEDEX. Over the road truck drivers also smuggle meth from California. As with all the other drugs, meth is sold in bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and on the street.

Club Drugs: LSD, MDMA, and GHB are all available in the Lexington area. The availability of MDMA seems to be increasing, while the availability of LSD and GHB have remained static or decreased slightly. The source area for MDMA in the Lexington area has been identified as Florida. The source area for LSD is California, and GHB is manufactured locally. The Lexington RO has a Priority Target Investigation involving two groups who distribute thousands of dosage units of MDMA per month in the Lexington area. The Lexington RO has made several undercover purchases from members of these organizations and has arrested four individuals thus far. Sales have been taking place at rave parties, nightclubs, bars, and hangouts for high school aged individuals.

Marijuana: Domestically grown marijuana is Kentucky’s number one cash crop and much of the marijuana is grown on national forest land. Kentucky ranked fourth in the nation in CY2001 in the number of marijuana plants eradicated; only California, Hawaii and Tennessee ranked higher. The planting usually begins about April 15th and harvesting begins in September or October. Multi-hundred pound marijuana shipments from the Southwest Border Area also make their way to the Lexington area. These shipments arrive primarily from Texas, in vehicles, although express mail shipping companies are utilized for smaller loads. Marijuana is readily available and one of the most abused drugs in the area. Marijuana use is culturally accepted in Kentucky. It is sold in parking lots, bars, store fronts, homes, and other locations.

Other Drugs: Oxycontin: The abuse of diverted pharmaceuticals is a grave drug problem in the state of Kentucky. Lorcet, Lortab, Percocet, Percodan, Xanax, and more recently OxyContin (OC) are readily available. The primary source for most of these pharmaceuticals are “doctor shoppers,” although sources for OCs include Mexico and armed robberies of pharmacies. However, a growing trend is for individuals to travel out or state or to use the Internet to obtain these pharmaceuticals. The abuse of OCs has also led to an increase in Medicare/Medicaid fraud. Unscrupulous doctors charge these programs for office visits and treatment that is not performed and the patients sell all or part of the prescription paid for by these programs in order to supplement their own incomes. In much of eastern Kentucky, people feel no stigma when abusing pharmaceuticals. Whole families have grown up abusing these drugs and these individuals see nothing wrong with using them.

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 359 deployments completed resulting in over 14,456 arrests of violent drug criminals as of April 1, 2002. The Detroit MET is currently deployed to Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Special Topics: HIDTA: During April 1998, ONDCP designated 26 counties in southeastern Kentucky as part of the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The Appalachia HIDTA is comprised 65 counties in three states, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

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