Northern California Drug Rehab
Abuse and Statistics
Profound reasons exist to immediately and greatly increase access to
drug rehab programs, drug rehab centers and addiction treatment centers in
general in Northern California. Some of these are as follows:
• Methamphetamine is the most serious threat in the region, and
there are no signs this will change soon.
• The state’s proximity to Mexico and its extensive
highway system enable groups from Mexico to dominate crucial aspects of the
drug trade.
• Nearly every illegal drug is readily available.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have faced the
full consequences of the methamphetamine threat for years, but organizations
dealing with health, social services, and the environment like California drug
rehab centers and California addiction treatment facilities are just beginning
to recognize its severity.
While methamphetamine-associated violence is increasing, it is
impossible to know the ultimate damage caused by this drug. The effects on
users and on the children of those producing and using the drug create a
critical social problem that affects this area and, increasingly, the rest of
the nation. Operators of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories continue to
dump toxic substances into rivers and watersheds, causing significant
environmental damage. The costs associated with cleanup are outstripping
budgets at every governmental level. California drug rehab is key to curtail
the demand for the epidemic amounts of drugs.
Northern California is home to some of the most productive farmland
in the nation and the world. Waves of illegal migrants move northward to work
the fields and sometimes participate in the production and transportation of
illicit drugs. Close-knit family groups control drug movements from Mexico to
Northern California and beyond. The extensive highway system facilitates drug
transportation.
Northern California is part of the most populous and diverse state in
the nation and drug rehab facilities must be developed with this in mind. In
July 1999, California had over 34 million people, about 14 million residing in
the Northern and Eastern Districts. California’s principal industries are
agriculture, entertainment, manufacturing, services, and trade. In 1999, the
per capita state income of $29,910 was above the $28,542 national average. In
May 2000, the seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate was 5.0 percent,
which is above the national average of 4.1 percent.
California’s extensive coastline and border with Mexico, its
busy ports and vast system of highways facilitate drug importation and
distribution. The main interstates in Northern California are I–5 and
I–80, and Highways 1 and 101 are extensively traveled coastal roadways.
The Port of Oakland is the fourth busiest container port in the nation, and the
San Francisco airport is the twelfth busiest in the world. This region is a
source, transit, and arrival zone for various illicit drugs. Mexican drug
trafficking organizations (DTOs) produce methamphetamine and cultivate cannabis
in large quantities in Northern California. The interstate highway system
facilitates the north-south and east-west transportation of these drugs
throughout Northern California and the United States. The Mexican DTOs that
produce and distribute methamphetamine also transport and distribute other
drugs in the area. Mexican DTOs dominate the distribution of large quantities
of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana in Northern California.
African-American, Asian, and Middle Eastern groups have developed a strong
influence within the region.
A wide variety of gang members and their associates are the primary
distributors of illegal narcotics at the street level. Gangs use firearms and
violence to protect their territories and supplies. Gang violence is increasing
and is closely associated with the methamphetamine trade. Hispanic street gangs
and prison gangs are growing in number. Outlaw motorcycle gangs, primarily the
Hells Angels, still have an active role in the methamphetamine trade. African-
American gangs, located in urban areas, are often associated with drug sales in
public housing. Recently, East Indian criminals have become more involved in
retail drug sales and other drug-related activity in the San Francisco area.
With some exceptions, individual gang members conduct retail narcotics
distribution on their own account rather than as part of a structured gang
business. The methods by which narcotics are distributed within the Northern
California region are evolving.
Drug rehab and addiction treatment centers must evolve with similar
aggression and coordination with the real public need. Intelligence indicates
that most groups are now storing narcotics in smaller quantities at multiple
locations. This technique minimizes seizures by law enforcement and reduces the
risk of large-scale losses to criminal groups.
 Methamphetamine:
Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment Needed. The most serious drug
threat facing Northern California law enforcement is methamphetamine. Although
more people are admitted to addiction treatment facilities for heroin abuse,
several factors make methamphetamine a more serious concern requiring
additional drug rehab facilities and avenues of assistance. The producers and
the users of the drug are often violent. By-products of methamphetamine
production damage the environment.
 Heroin:
Heroin Addiction Treatment Needed. Black tar heroin from Mexico is
plentiful in Northern California, and prices remain low driving up the
addiction to this drug and demanding drug rehab programs to combat this
nightmare. Although the number of heroin treatment admissions is up, that
number relative to total admissions for all illicit drugs is down within the
region. With few exceptions, tightly knit Mexican groups control the
transportation and distribution of heroin.
 Cocaine:
Cocaine Addiction Treatment Needed. Cocaine addiction, of both
powdered and crack forms, is steady in Northern California and needs to be
supported by readily available drug rehab programs. Cocaine addiction treatment
admissions are up, and violence associated with crack distribution is a serious
concern for law enforcement officials. The California Bureau of Narcotic
Enforcement (BNE) reports that in San Joaquin County, crack is as serious a
problem as methamphetamine.
 Marijuana:
Marijuana Addiction Treatment Needed. Cannabis cultivation and
marijuana addiction are widespread in Northern California again adding to the
demand for serious drug rehab and addiction treatment efforts. Because of the
costs associated with surveillance and the eradication of cannabis, some
Northern California authorities rank marijuana as a more costly threat than
cocaine.
 Other
Drugs:
Other Dangerous Drugs of Addiction. The San Francisco Bay Area has a
thriving alternative culture, which often includes the use of other dangerous
drugs. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) has been popular for many years. The
increased use of “designer drugs” such as MDMA
(3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly known as ecstasy, and GHB (gamma
hydroxybutyrate) is also of concern to area authorities. All these factors and
thousands more require predicate that we act now and increase availability of
serious drug rehab and addiction treatment facilities where they are so
desperately needed, drug rehab California. |