Alaska Drug Statistics

Alaska has expanses of nature that captivate the soul and tight-knit communities that are welcoming and warm. This state is not just the frigid, desolate land that so many think of. Locals know that you can’t find a more involved, caring and resilient group of people any place else in America. When drug and alcohol abuse enters one’s life, the battle to discontinue substance abuse can be challenging, to say the least. Even in an understanding, family-oriented setting, it can be difficult to open up to loved ones.

Data shows that those 26 and older need – and aren’t receiving – drug and alcohol detox and rehab in Alaska. If you’re using and abusing, call Palm Partners Addiction Detox and Rehab now for immediate help: 800-900-2451. Get into the right facility and transform your life. Our professionals are standing by, 24/7.

What you should know

Due to its location, Alaska has become a transfer state for drugs. It also has become a place of very high drug use. Alaskans are one of the highest per capita users of drugs and alcohol in the U.S. – and have an equally alarming rate of suicide.

Mexican and Dominican groups dominate cocaine distribution. A major problem in Alaska is the drug trafficking organizations’ money laundering.

Compared to other states

• Illicit drugs overall – among the highest for those 18 and older
• Cocaine – among the highest for those 18 and older
• Marijuana – among the highest for those 26 and older, moderately high for those 18-25
• Pharmaceuticals – moderately high for those 26 and older, average for those 18-25
• Alcohol – moderately high those 26 and older, average for those 18-25

Source: SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, based on 2008-2009 annual averages. SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A closer look

Cocaine

Crack cocaine a major threat. It sells at greatly inflated prices due to a limited supply. Many drug trafficking organizations deal in both crack and cocaine, obtained from the lower 48 states.

Marijuana

Most widely used drug¸ made illegal again in 2006. Almost all of the marijuana produced in state is grown indoors under climate-controlled conditions. BC Bud smuggled from British Columbia is a problem and widely available, especially in the Anchorage area.

Pharmaceuticals

Another widely used class of drugs, especially with younger people. The most frequently trafficked drugs are: oxycodone products such as OxyContin, Percocet and Percodan; hydrocodone products such as Vicodin and Lortab; and anabolic steroids.

The drugs come from many sources: illegal dispensing and prescribing by doctors and healthcare workers, pharmacists, forged prescriptions, internet purchase, “doctor shopping” (going to different doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions) as well as thefts from pharmacies, nursing homes and hospitals.

Alcohol

A significant threat.

Methamphetamine

Significant governmental limits to local production. In an attempt to decrease meth’s manufacture, Alaska has passed statutes limiting the sale of pseudoephedrine in stores. In fact, many of them have chosen to remove all pseudoephedrine-based products. As a result, the number of small lab seizures has decreased.

However, meth is still readily available. The majority of it comes from groups trafficking meth from the Lower 48. But yaba – meth in tablet form and reportedly manufactured in Laos or Burma – is trafficked from Southeast Asia.

Club drugs

Ecstasy, LSD and GHB — not widely available. Distribution in limited amounts is through the same drug traffickers distributing cocaine, meth and marijuana.

Heroin

Limited access. Heroin users have turned to OxyContin as a substitute, because of its greater availability. Mexican organizations dominate the limited trade in black tar heroin.

Percentage of Alaska population using/abusing drugs

¹ Age group is based on a respondent’s age at the time of the interview, not his or her age at first use.

² Illicit Drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used non-medically. Illicit Drugs Other Than Marijuana include cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used non-medically.

³ When the Perception of Great Risk in using marijuana or alcohol is low, use of marijuana or alcohol is high.

⁴ Binge Alcohol Use is defined as drinking five or more drinks on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in the past 30 days.

⁵ Dependence or abuse is based on definitions found in the 4^th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

⁶ Needing But Not Receiving Treatment refers to respondents needing treatment for illicit drugs or alcohol, but not receiving treatment at a specialty facility.

⁷ Major Depressive Episode is a period of at least 2 weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of the symptoms for depression as described in the DSM-IV.

Source: Condensed version of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004 and 2005, from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies