Nevada Drug Statistics

Nevada is always growing and always full of surprises. As any resident of this gem of a state knows, home means Nevada. We take pride in our college football teams, in our daily work and in the fact that everyone loves this state. The world comes here to witness and be part of the spectacular fun and magic. Drug abuse and alcoholism are pressing concerns in many communities within Nevada. When addiction affects a life or many lives, there seems to be no end or escape. That’s where Palm Partners comes in. Contact Palm Partners Recovery Center today.

Data shows that those 18 and older particularly need – and aren’t receiving – drug detox and rehab in Nevada. Those 18-25 are in thesame situation for alcohol detox and rehab.If you’re using and abusing, call Palm Partners Addiction Detox and Rehab now for immediate help: 702-965-3237. Get into the right facility and transform your life. Our professionals are standing by, 24/7.

What you should know

The primary drug of concern in Nevada is meth. The state often is a transshipment point for various drugs sent to the central and eastern sections of the U.S.

Compared to other states

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

Particularly crack, a primary drug of concern in urban areas. Cocaine is moderately available in northern Nevada and readily available throughout southern Nevada. The drug is brought into the state mainly from California via ground transportation. Las Vegas is a transshipment point for distribution across the U.S. African-American street gangs control most of the distribution in state, basing their operations in cheap motel rooms and apartments in larger cities’ impoverished areas.

Methamphetamine

Most commonly abused drug. Mexican drug organizations bring in the drug from “super labs” operating in Mexico and California. Mexican crystal meth is the most available type. Local meth labs produce only small quantities. The state is a transshipment location for meth distribution nationally.

Marijuana

Easily available. Legal for medicinal purposes and in quantities of one ounce or less, marijuana is available from Mexico, the primary source, and from in-state growers. The Mexican poly-drug organizations transport marijuana mostly from California .

Alcohol

A significant problem.

Pharmaceuticals

Prescription fraud on the rise in Las Vegas, Reno. Across the state, sources are the illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, “doctor shopping” and internet pharmacies. Oxycodone and hydrocodone products, methadone, ketamine and benzodiazepines are most commonly abused.

Heroin

Mexican black tar most prevalent. Mexican poly-drug organizations control the trafficking, recruiting Mexican nationals to live in urban regions to distribute the drug mostly in open air markets. Mexican brown heroin is somewhat available in Clark County through Mexican nationals.

Club drugs

Mainly a threat in Las Vegas. Readily available in southern cities, club drugs are only sporadically used in northern urban areas. Trafficking ranges from hand-to-hand sales in clubs and raves to larger sales between locals and out-of-town distributors. MDMA comes mainly from southern California, San Francisco and New York, with Las Vegas a transshipment area. Asian drug trafficking organizations distribute a significant amount of MDMA. Also abused are GHB and LSD.

Percentage of Nevada 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.