Central California Drug Rehab
Abuse and Statistics
The need for drug rehab California is very real. The California
Central district’s extensive transportation infrastructure and its
proximity to the U.S. Mexico border make it an ideal location for the storage,
distribution, and transshipment of illegal drugs smuggled into the country from
Mexico. Los Angeles is not only a major West Coast transportation hub for
illegal drugs destined for cities throughout the United States, but also a
major storage and distribution center for drugs smuggled into the country by
Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Drug rehab programs are desperately
needed for the victims of this drug war. These organizations are responsible
for most of the drugs smuggled into and sold within the district, although
numerous Hispanic and African American street gangs also are involved in the
retail distribution of drugs. Cocaine addiction and methamphetamine addiction
are the primary and secondary drug threats to the district, respectively,
followed by heroin, marijuana, and other dangerous drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy)
addiction and LSD addiction.
 Cocaine:
Cocaine addiction is the most significant drug threat to the
California Central District. The district is a transshipment point for cocaine
that is destined for many U.S. cities and, to a lesser extent, Canada. The
primary smugglers and distributors of cocaine are Mexican drug trafficking
organizations and other Mexican criminal groups. Mexican drug trafficking
organizations and Mexican criminal groups obtain cocaine from Colombian drug
trafficking organizations and then smuggle the drug into the district for
wholesale distribution. Though cocaine has stabilized in purity and price, it
still remains the district’s number one drug threat. Drug rehab admissions
and cocaine-related law enforcement actions both increased in 1999. Crack
cocaine continues to be distributed at the retail level by African American and
Hispanic street gangs.
  Methamphetamine:
Methamphetamine addiction ranks second to cocaine addiction as a
significant drug threat. From 1997 to 1999, the price and amounts of
methamphetamine seized in the California Central District of California
increased. Although the purity levels of methamphetamine decreased
significantly over the same period, recent reports indicate purity levels are
slowly rising. The district is classified as a major source of domestically
produced methamphetamine. Numerous methamphetamine laboratories are located in
the California Central District of California, including a number of superlabs
operated by Mexican drug trafficking organizations, which use the district as
both a distribution center and a transshipment hub. In response to increased
law enforcement pressure, some larger methamphetamine laboratory operations are
being relocated to areas outside the district. Mexican drug trafficking
organizations control the wholesale and retail distribution of methamphetamine
in the district. They supply powdered methamphetamine to Asian criminal groups
who then convert it into crystal methamphetamine (ice). These Asian groups
dominate the sale of ice in the district.
 Heroin:
Mexican black tar is the most prevalent type of heroin available in
the California Central District. Los Angeles is a major distribution center and
transshipment point for Mexican black tar and brown powdered heroin destined
for locations within California as well as cities primarily in the western
United States. Mexican black tar heroin, smuggled and sold by Mexican drug
trafficking organizations, is increasing in availability and purity throughout
the district. South American heroin, produced and supplied by Colombian drug
trafficking organizations, is also available in the area. Though Southeast
Asian and Southwest Asian heroin is transshipped through Los Angeles to the
eastern United States, it is not encountered as frequently by law enforcement
in the district.
 Marijuana:
Domestic cannabis cultivation and foreign-produced marijuana are
significant threats to the California Central District of California. Mexican
marijuana is generally the least expensive type found in the district because
of its wide availability and lower THC content, which is reported at
approximately 4 to 6 percent. In contrast, domestically produced
marijuana—particularly that cultivated from hydroponics indoor
grows—is a higher grade (24 to 26%) and more expensive. High quality
marijuana from Canada (“BC Bud”) is also available in the area.
Mexican drug trafficking organizations and criminal groups dominate the
wholesale marijuana market in the Los Angeles area, while Hispanic and African
American street gangs are the predominant distributors of marijuana at the
retail level.
  Other
Drugs:
The abuse of other dangerous drugs—especially those associated
with rave parties such as MDMA, GHB, LSD, and Rohypnol—is increasing in
the California Central District. Of particular concern is that younger party
crowds, including teenagers, are abusing these drugs. The danger becomes
greater as these drugs are ingested with alcohol, other drugs, or both. Israeli
organized crime syndicates control most of the European market and are the
primary MDMA source for distribution groups in the United States. There is
evidence that Russian organized crime is also involved in the smuggling and
wholesale distribution of MDMA. Violence associated with the drug trade is a
major concern for authorities in the California Central District.
As the availability of drugs, particularly cocaine and
methamphetamine, continues to raise the violence associated with the activities
of Mexican drug trafficking organizations may increase. Colombian and Russian
criminal groups appear to be increasing their presence in the area as well,
escalating the potential for violence as these groups vie with established drug
trafficking organizations for a share in the trade. The battle for control of
retail distribution by Hispanic and African American street gangs is increasing
the possibility of violence. These gangs are extremely violent and contribute
to conditions that threaten public safety. The California Central District
includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San
Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. It is the most populated federal
judicial district in the United States, exceeding 15.5 million. Los Angeles,
with 3.8 million people—an estimated 8,146 persons per square mile—is
the largest city in the state, and the second largest in the United States.
Four other cities within the district have year 2000 population estimates in
excess of 200,000 people: Long Beach (457,600), Santa Ana (317,700), Anaheim
(310,700), and Riverside (259,700). The district also boasts one of the best
transportation infrastructures in the country. It has an extensive coastline,
intricate highway and railway systems, and a number of regional and
international airports.
The California Central District’s coastline extends over 350
miles from the San Diego County line in the south to the Monterey County line
in the north and is home to two of the busiest maritime ports in the world,
Long Beach and Los Angeles. The Port of Long Beach is the nation’s busiest
maritime cargo container facility, while the Port of Los Angeles ranks second;
more than 7.9 million 20-foot cargo container units moved into the two ports in
fiscal year (FY) 1999.
The Los Angeles area is a major storage and transshipment point for
illicit drugs smuggled to other states, as well as to Canada and some Pacific
Rim countries. Los Angeles is a major transshipment point for the exportation
of drug proceeds to other countries. All major drugs of abuse are readily
available in the California Central District. According to law enforcement
officials, powdered and crack addiction cocaine addiction and Methamphetamine
addiction presents the most significant threats. The district is a major
methamphetamine production source not only for the state but also for much of
the country. Mexican black tar heroin is the predominant heroin marketed within
the district. Marijuana is the most available drug in the district; both
marijuana transshipment and domestic cannabis cultivation are significant
threats to the district. Mexican marijuana is widely available and least
expensive. The abuse of other dangerous drugs, such as MDMA, GHB
(gamma-hydroxybutyrate), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and Rohypnol,
usually associated with rave parties, is significantly affecting the district.
Of particular concern is that younger party crowds, including teenagers, are
abusing these drugs. Drug-related arrest data are helpful in determining the
overall drug problem.
According to data from the California Department of Alcohol and Drug
Rehab Programs for Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa
Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties, adult drug-related felonies and
misdemeanors fluctuated between 1993 and 1997, reaching a high of almost
128,000 in 1997. In each of the years from 1993 to 1997, the number of adult
drug-related felonies accounted for over half of all drug-related arrests.
Juvenile drug-related arrests represented about 8 percent of all drug-related
arrests in 1993 and remained relatively stable. While drug-related arrests have
slightly increased, crime rate statistics indicate that the overall crime rate
in the California Central District gradually declined between 1993 and 1998, as
did the violent crime rate. Property crime rates decreased 41 percent from
14,255 per 100,000 persons in 1993 to 8,377 per 100,000 persons in 1998.
Willful homicide rates decreased 42 percent from 67 per 100,000 persons in 1993
to 38 per 100,000 persons in 1998. Although there was a 42 percent decline in
the homicide rate for the entire district between 1993 and 1998, according to a
news report, the number of homicides in Los Angeles increased from 192
homicides in 1999 to 250 in the first half of 2000. The report further states
that a possible resurgence in gang activity may be a major cause of the recent
increase in violence and homicides in Los Angeles, more than 40 percent of
which were gang-related. Increased law enforcement pressure in urban areas is
causing gangs to establish new territories and markets in smaller communities
and rural areas. As a result, gang violence is spreading from urban to rural
areas.
Within the California Central District, Los Angeles County has an
estimated 1,350 gangs with 152,000 members. Most notable are the Mexican Mafia,
Bloods, Crips, and the 18th Street Gang. Many of these Los Angeles-based gangs
have chapters in cities throughout the United States. These gangs are extremely
violent and create harmful environments that threaten public safety and create
the drug addiction greatly in need of drug rehab programs and addiction
treatment centers. |