State
Facts Population: 20,851,820 Law
Enforcement Officers: 55,193 State Prison
Population: 144,810 Probation Population:
447,100 Violent Crime Rate National Ranking:
14 |
2001
Federal Drug Seizures Cocaine: 15,192.9 kgs.
Heroin: 142.0 kgs. Methamphetamine:
451.9 kgs. Marijuana: 613,107.3 kgs.
Clandestine Laboratories: 575 (DEA, state, and
local) |
Top 55 cities in Texas
Texas drug rehab is needed very badly, partially due the fact that
Texas is a gateway for a large percentage of the illicit drugs smuggled to drug
markets throughout the United States. Large quantities of methamphetamine,
cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are smuggled into the state from Mexico for
distribution within Texas or for eventual transport to drug markets throughout
the nation. Other dangerous drugs are smuggled into Texas from Mexico as well,
primarily for abuse within the state but also for regional distribution. The
quantity of illicit drugs smuggled into Texas far exceeds consumption within
the state; however, significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin,
marijuana, and other dangerous drugs are abused in Texas leaving drug rehab
centers and programs overburdened and largely ineffective.
 Methamphetamine:
Methamphetamine addiction is a significant drug threat to Texas drug
rehab. High purity, low cost methamphetamine is readily available, and the drug
is widely abused, particularly in rural areas requiring Texas drug rehab and
addiction treatment programs much work to do. Methamphetamine produced in
Mexico is the predominant type available. Locally produced methamphetamine also
is available and is becoming more prevalent. Methamphetamine production in
Texas is increasing, as is the number of methamphetamine laboratories being
seized by law enforcement officials.
Cocaine:
Cocaine addiction also is a significant drug threat to Texas drug
rehab. Powdered cocaine and crack cocaine are readily available and frequently
abused throughout the state; however, crack cocaine is more readily available
in larger metropolitan areas such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio
where drug rehab facilities are needed most.
Heroin:
Heroin addiction poses a considerable threat to Texas drug rehab
programs. Mexican black tar heroin and Mexican brown powdered heroin are the
predominant types available throughout the state; however, South American,
Southeast Asian, and Southwest Asian heroin are available to varying extents.
Marijuana:
Marijuana addiction is a significant drug threat to Texas drug rehab.
Marijuana produced in Mexico is the predominant type available throughout the
state. Locally produced marijuana is also available, although to a lesser
extent.
Club Drugs:
Other dangerous drugs (ODDs)
include the club drugs MDMA, GHB and its analogs, ketamine, LSD, and Rohypnol;
the hallucinogen PCP; and diverted pharmaceuticals. MDMA is readily available
and abused in Texas and poses a considerable drug threat to the state. Other
ODDs present varying threats to Texas. Various criminal groups transport club
drugs into Texas via private vehicles, commercial aircraft, couriers on foot
(crossing the U.S.Mexico border), and package delivery services. Club
drugs primarily are sold and abused by middle-class, suburban teenagers and
young adults at raves and nightclubs and on college campuses. PCP generally is
distributed by local independent dealers throughout the state. Pharmaceuticals
such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid),
alprazolam (Xanax), and cough syrup with codeine typically are diverted through
a variety of techniques including pharmacy diversion, doctor
shopping, and improper prescribing practices by physicians. Texas Drug
Rehab Need Huge: Texas is the second largest state in the country in terms of
both population and land area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state
has more than 21 million residents; 71.0 percent are Caucasian, 11.5 percent
African American, 2.7 percent Asian, 0.6 percent American Indian or Alaska
Native, 0.1 percent Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 14.2 percent are
another race or more than one race. Thirty-two percent of the population is of
Hispanic or Latino origin.
Obviously these factors have to be taken into account for any drug
rehab / addiction treatment concerns. Texas drug rehab zone encompasses a land
area of approximately 261,914 square miles. It is composed of forests,
mountains, deserts, dry plains, and humid, subtropical coastal lowlands. Texas
shares a 1,254-mile border with Mexico that follows the course of the Rio
Grande River. This border area, a large portion of which is open and incapable
of being continuously monitored by border enforcement agencies, is extensively
used by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to smuggle illicit drugs into the
United States. Significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and
marijuana are smuggled from Mexico into Texas. Federal-wide Drug Seizure System
(FDSS) data indicate that the quantity of drugs seized by federal law
enforcement officers in Texas, most of which is seized at or near the
U.S.Mexico border, consistently exceeds that of any other state in the
nation. FDSS data indicate that in 2002, Texas Texas drug rehab Population to
be covered in(2001) 21,325,018 U.S. population 2nd ranking Median household
$40,860 income (2001) Unemployment 6.4% rate (Jan. 2003) Land area 261,914
square miles Coastline 624 miles International border 1,254 miles Capital
Austin Other principal cities Dallas drug rehab, El Paso drug rehab, Fort Worth
drug rehab, Houston drug rehab, San Antonio drug rehab Number of counties 254
Principal Agriculture, construction, industries manufacturing, minerals (oil
and gas), services, wholesale and retail trade ranked first in the country in
the amount of cocaine and marijuana seized by federal officers, second in the
amount of methamphetamine seized, and third in the amount of heroin seized. In
2002, 555,324 kilograms of marijuana were seized in Texasmore than were
seized in all other states combined during that year.
Public health data indicate that drug-related addiction treatment
admissions in Texas increased from 1998 through 2002. According to the Texas
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), the number of adult (18 and over)
drug-related drug rehab addiction treatment admissions (not including alcohol)
to publicly funded facilities in the state increased from 22,049 in 1998 to
27,530 in 2002. Of the 27,530 adult admissions, 4,191 were for marijuana, 3,280
were for powdered cocaine, 8,984 were for crack, 3,186 were for
amphetamine/methamphetamine, 5,127 were for heroin, 75 were for MDMA, and the
remaining 2,687 admissions were for other illicit and licit drugs, not
including alcohol. Despite increased Texas drug rehab admissions, survey data
indicate that the percentage of Texas residents who reported having abused an
illicit drug was lower than the percentage nationwide. According to combined
data from the 1999 and the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse
(NHSDA), 4.9 percent of Texas residents aged 12 and older reported having
abused an illicit drug in the month prior to the survey, compared with 6.3
percent nationwide. Drug-related crimes have increased in Texas lending even
more reason to need for drug rehab and addiction treatment programs. The number
of arrests in the state for the possession or sale of illicit drugs increased
from 1997 through 2001, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS). In 1997 there were 9,414 arrests for the sale of illicit drugs and
88,932 arrests for the possession of illicit drugs. In 2001 there were 10,034
arrests for the sale of illicit drugs and 93,888 arrests for the possession of
illicit drugs.
These would not be a factor if effective drug rehab were occurring in
a quantity high enough to cub the demand. According to the U.S. Sentencing
Commission (USSC), in fiscal year (FY) 2001, 47 percent of the federal
sentences in Texas were for drug-related offenseshigher than the national
rate of 41 percent. Marijuana offenses accounted for the majority (64%) of the
drug-related federal sentences in the state in FY2001. Illicit drug abuse has a
significant impact on the states economy. According to estimates
published by TCADA in January 2003, abuse of illicit drugs cost the state $9.5
billion in 2000. These costs include actual or estimated costs for Texas drug
rehab and care, reduced or lost productivity, crime, premature death, law
enforcement, property damage, motor vehicle accidents, and social welfare
administration costs and Texas addiction treatment.
Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction Treatment
Drug Situation: Due to its
geographical proximity to Mexico, drug smuggling/transportation throughout
Texas is dominated by Mexican trafficking organizations. They are poly-drug
organizations distributing/smuggling cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and
methamphetamine throughout the United States. Although there is a significant
drug abuse problem in Texas and drug addiction treatment is crucial, more tons
of illicit drugs pass through the state than are delivered for internal
consumption.
Prescription
Drugs: The most common methods of diversion of pharmaceutical
controlled substances continue to be illegal and indiscriminate prescribing and
doctor shopping. OxyContin abuse is on the increase. Oxycontin
abuse is an increasing reason for individuals entering drug rehab
centers.
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. There are
three DEA Divisions in Texas: Dallas, El Paso, and Houston. Combined, they have
completed 32 Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) deployments throughout the state
since the inception of the program, resulting in 1,261 arrests and the seizure
of 286.6 pounds of cocaine, 29.3 pounds of crack cocaine, 9.3 pounds of heroin,
941 pounds of marijuana, 33.3 pounds of methamphetamine, and one clandestine
methamphetamine laboratory. Also seized were 42 vehicles, 122 weapons, and over
$1 million in U.S. currency and property.
Addiction Treatment Centers Needed:An increase in the availability
of illicit drugs, naturally, means an increase in the need for addiction
treatment centers with effective drug addiction treatment programs. Drug rehab
centers must be able to handle an individual's addiction and help the
individuals become a productive member of their community. |