Denver Drug Abuse Statistics

Denver is the most populated city in the State of Colorado. With an estimated population of 598,707, Denver is the 24^th most populated city in the United States. Its economy is primarily influenced by its geographical position. Being large in area, Denver has become the storage and transportation center for this part of the country. However, crime rates in the city are soaring high, with drug addiction in Denver, CO assuming greater proportions.

Instances of drug abuse in Denver, Colorado, have continued to soar at a time when these are showing a declining trend in other U.S. cities. Denver suffers from cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana abuse, and this poses severe threats to the city. In 2001, Denver recorded 310 drug overdose deaths, with the state of Colorado recording the highest abuse of marijuana and the second highest abuse of alcohol.

Mexico transports most of the cocaine and heroin to Denver. California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas also ship drugs in private and commercial vehicles to Denver, which are then distributed by couriers. Mexico also transports most of the methamphetamine and marijuana to Denver, with Canada also playing a major part in the shipment of the drug to Denver. Drug traffickers traverse through Interstates 25, 70, and 76 to smuggle drugs to Denver.

Criminal gangs and local dealers in Mexico are the primary retailers of powdered cocaine and methamphetamine in Denver. The Sureos 13 gang is also a major distributor of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, particularly within jails and community centers. Caucasian criminal groups are the primary distributors of Canadian marijuana in Denver.

Such widespread distribution and abuse of powdered and crack cocaine and related violence pose a severe drug threat to Denver. In 2001, 126 cocaine related deaths were reported in Denver. In the same year, of the total number of sentences in Colorado, those related to cocaine accounted for 51%, which was even higher than the national average.

Several cases of violent crime in Denver have been blamed on cocaine, as drug dealers try collecting drug debts to protect their illicit operations. Due to such widespread drug abuse, Denver has become a transportation hub for powdered cocaine which is smuggled from Denver to Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and many other states in private vehicles.

Though cocaine poses a major threat to Denver, heroin abuse is not far behind. Substance abuse in Denver has assumed great proportions, particularly in the suburbs where the drug is easily available. Mexican black tar and brown powdered heroin are easily available in Denver. From 14-17 November, 2003, about 11 pounds of Mexican black tar and brown powdered heroin were seized in Colorado.

Methamphetamine is no less a threat to Denver, as it is produced and distributed in the city. The rising Denver CO narcotics abuse statistics point to the glaring fact that not many efforts are spent on the eradication of drug abuse and its treatment. This is the prime reason why drug abuse has become a big problem in Denver. While the number of cases of cocaine and alcohol abuse tops the list of drug abuse here, the use of party drugs, as well as ecstasy is also increasing enormously.