New Jersey Drug Statistics

It is difficult to condense the state of New Jersey into only a few sentences. This state is so much more than a shore, a cluster of casinos and sprawl. It is comprised of friendly, fun-loving people who know how to have a good time. New Jersey is known for its industry, its delicious, comforting food and its communal closeness. In spite of all the positives, however, New Jersey also faces very real issues with chemical dependency among its constituents. If you or someone you know struggles with drug addiction or alcoholism, contact Palm Partners now.We assist people overcome their addictions through effectual, tailored and motivational programs every day. Call Palm Partners today and discover the goodness that is waiting for you.

Data shows that those 18-25 particularly need – and aren’t receiving – drug and alcohol detox and rehab in New Jersey. If you’re using and abusing, call Palm Partners Addiction Detox and Rehab now for immediate help: 609-799-4584. Get into the right facility and transform your life. Our professionals are standing by, 24/7.

What you should know

Called the “crossroads of the east,” New Jersey is a strategic corridor and drug gateway due to its interstate highways, roadways, airports and seaports able to accommodate very large amounts of passenger and cargo traffic from the U.S. and around the globe. While Colombian and Dominican drug organizations predominantly control heroin and cocaine trafficking, Mexican traffickers from the West Coast are increasingly moving cocaine shipments into New Jersey.

Compared to other states

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

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

Marijuana

Most readily available illegal drug. Medicinal marijuana is legal. Most marijuana comes from Mexico, although some comes from Canada and Jamaica. Some also is grown indoors in southern rural areas of the state, while other rural areas have outdoor grows. Marijuana is transported via autos, tractor-trailers, vessels, mail and airplanes.

Cocaine

Drug of choice. Crack is widely available and the drug of choice for lower-income communities. Cocaine comes directly from South American ports, Puerto Rico and the Southwest Border via commercial and private vehicles. New Jersey is a major artery for international cocaine trafficking organizations, predominantly Colombian and Dominican, but also Mexican. Then African-American and Dominican organizations distribute the drug, as do other ethnic groups and street gangs to a smaller extent.

Heroin

Most abused drug. Heroin routinely arrives from South America with transshipment from Mexico, Aruba, Curacao, Puerto Rico and countries in Central America. Distribution points are usually open-air markets or street corners in lower-income areas in cities such as Newark, Paterson, Camden, Jersey City and Elizabeth. Traffickers use multiple couriers on flights with multiple connections as well as land transportation. Nigerian and other West African drug organizations smuggle heroin from Europe and West Africa. Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin is very limited in availability.

Methamphetamine

Most available and widely used drug in southern New Jersey. Traffickers are primarily of Mexican descent with direct connections to the western U.S. and Mexico. Local production has been linked to motorcycle gangs, independent chemists and organized crime. Crystal meth use and distribution is associated with the Filipino community. Large amounts come from Mexico and the Philippines, are converted to ice in Los Angeles and then brought into the state via motor vehicle or mail services.

Pharmaceuticals

Increase in drug overdoses linked to fentanyl. Most commonly abused drugs are Percocet, OxyContin, Xanax, Vicodin/Vicodin ES and hydrocodone products. The most commonly abused chemicals are GBL, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. Sources are “doctor shopping,” prescription forgery and organized script rings.

Club drugs

Increasing, especially MDMA (Ecstasy). Club drugs have regained popularity in the southeastern areas of the state.

Alcohol

A moderate problem.

Percentage of New Jersey 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.