State
Facts Population: 1,048,319 Law
Enforcement Officers: 2,481 State Prison Population:
1,909 Probation Population: 21,753
Violent Crime Rate National Ranking:
37 |
2001
Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 31.9 kgs.
Heroin: 0.8 kgs. Methamphetamine: 0
kgs. Marijuana: 8.5 kgs. Clandestine
Laboratories: 1 (DEA, state, and local) |
Top 4 cities in Rhode IslandPawtucket Cranston Warwick Providence
Drug Abuse and Addiction Treatment Centers
Drug Situation: Cocaine is the
primary drug of choice among those seeking drug addiction treatment in Rhode
Island. High quality cocaine is available in Rhode Island and is generally
60%-90% pure. Cocaine traffickers in Rhode Island also service customers in
Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, and utilize Rhode Island as a
transshipment point for distribution throughout New England.
Cocaine: Cocaine continues to be readily available
throughout Rhode Island. The cocaine is transported from South America through
Southwest Border States via commercial airlines and motor vehicles fitted with
sophisticated hidden hydraulic compartments. Cocaine is also brought to New
England from the Mexican border, hidden within shipments of legitimate goods
being transported by tractor-trailer. Much of the cocaine HCl is converted into
crack cocaine for sale at the retail level. Cocaine is distributed primarily by
Colombian and Dominican traffickers. The majority of the cocaine purchased in
Rhode Island is transported in by local suppliers who travel to New York and
return to distribute the product.
Heroin:
Heroin is widely available in the Rhode Island area and can be purchased in
nearly every town and city. Heroin is available in Rhode Island at very high
purity levels. During 2001, heroin submitted to the DEA Northeast Laboratory
has been analyzed at purity levels as high as 94%. Dominican, Colombian, and
Puerto Rican traffickers continue to dominate the heroin trafficking market in
Rhode Island. Heroin is transported by courier to Providence via airplane,
train and automobile for distribution. Heroin is sold at the retail level in
bags, bundles, browns and bricks. Heroin is the primary drug of choice among a
number of addicted individuals entering drug rehab centers.
 Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is rarely seen in
Rhode Island those it is reportedly abused by some upon entry to addiction
treatment centers.
Club Drugs:
The state of Rhode Island is seeing an increase in the abuse of club
drugs, such as MDMA and GHB, and an increase in the number of individuals
seeking drug addiction treatment for club drug abuse/addiction. MDMA is found
in various Nightclubs located in Providence, RI and at rave parties throughout
the state. Almost all-local Police departments in Rhode Island have reported
and increase in Ecstasy, GHB and Ketamine or K. The majority of the
MDMA seen in Rhode Island comes from Canada, New York and Boston, MA. The
Providence Resident Office seized the first operational ecstasy lab in the
state in July 2001. The ecstasy lab had been operational for approximately two
months. The lab was located in Central Falls, RI and was capable of producing
thousands of tablets.
Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available
in all areas of Rhode Island. It is often reported as being abused in
conjunction with other drugs of choice by those entering drug rehab centers.
Prices of marijuana will vary seasonally as the supply fluctuates. The
marijuana available in Rhode Island is mostly Mexican, however it is
supplemented by limited amounts of other foreign based and domestic marijuana.
The majority of the marijuana is imported from the southwest border via parcel
carriers and couriers on commercial airlines. Hydroponically produced marijuana
and BC Bud marijuana are available in Rhode Island. A majority of
the hydro marijuana and BC Bud is transported into
Rhode Island via tractor trailers. Canada is the major source of supply for
this type of marijuana in Rhode Island.
Other Drugs:
The most popular
pharmaceutical substance abused in Rhode Island is OxyContin. Much of the
diversion is through fraudulent prescriptions, doctor shopping, pharmacy
break-ins, and hospital thefts. Oxycontin addiction is on the rise as reflected
by the number of individuals entering addiction treatment centers for their
addiction to oxycontin.
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
two MET deployments in the State of Rhode Island since the inception of the
program: Pawtucket and Providence. These deployments resulted in 56 arrests and
the seizure of 7 pounds of cocaine; 11.4 pounds of crack cocaine; 1 pound of
heroin; 3,455 Ecstasy pills; 10 vehicles; and over $31,000 in U.S.
currency and property.
Special
Topics: There
are currently two drug treatment courts operating in the state of Rhode Island.
According to the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services, there are currently 58 drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers
operating in the state of Rhode Island.
More Drug Rehab Centers will be
Needed:As the problem
of addiction grows, more drug rehab centers and drug addiction treatment
programs will be needed to assist those afflicted with an addiction.
|