Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal drugs

[HailBlazers]

Cartel-affiliated groups likely to expand heroin, meth trafficking in Oregon, report concludes

The trends reported in drug use and trafficking aren't good news for Oregon.

Trafficking in heroin, methamphetamine and prescription drugs will likely continue to increase. Abuse of the state's medical marijuana program also will increase, the report said.

The state ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal drugs. Oregon HIDTA doesn't see that changing soon.

"The abuse and trafficking of opiate drugs, namely heroin and prescription pain relievers, will continue to expand," the report said. Heroin use will go up as prescription abusers "increasingly switch to heroin because it is less expensive, more available and provides a more intense high."

The report warned that "the number of young users will likely grow as abuse of prescription opiods continues to serve as a gateway to heroin use."
Chris Gibson, director of Oregon HIDTA, said police alone can't stop the trafficking.

A walk around the streets of Portland are pretty telling these days.

 

[HailBlazers]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

The state report concluded heroin is the most serious drug threat based on the amount of heroin seized by police, the number of new users and the "rising incidence" of drug-related violent and property crimes.

"Heroin availability and use in the state has reached a critical level," the report said.

The report traces that increase in part to abuse of controlled prescription drugs, or CPDs. In 2013, pharmacists filled 1.9 million prescriptions for hydrocodone and another 1.1 million prescriptions for oxycodone. Together, the two accounted for 43 percent of all prescriptions in Oregon.

"The proliferation of rogue pharmacies that dispense CPDs without a prescription and do not comply with pharmacy laws and standards will continue to be a public health and safety," the report added.

Wow.

Methamphetamine remains a significant problem in Oregon. Last year, police seized 540 pounds of crystal methamphetamine through highway stops, compared to 157 pounds just three years earlier.

The report concluded meth production in Mexico will continue to increase despite the Mexican government's crackdown on precursor chemicals.

Crystal meth is "highly available" as Mexican traffickers smuggle the drug into the U.S. or manufacture it at labs outside Oregon. Investigators have found large meth caches being shipped on tour buses and smuggled into Oregon in liquid form in tequila bottles.

"Methamphetamine-related crimes such as identity theft, property and violent crimes will continue to follow the trend of abuse," the report said.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

Well that's a buzz kill!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

This is a growing problem (heroin addiction)

Kids who are into sports can get very intense these days (clubs, playing year round, core training, personal trainer), this has led to an increase in sports injuries. Doctors prescribe oxycontin/oxycodone . . . then when they stop the prescription, the kids turn to heroin as a substitute.

This is happening through a whole cross section of the community . . . good kids from good families are getting addicted to heroin.

(Not saying this is how all the kids are getting hooked, but one of the reasons heroin addiction has become a growing problem, especially in the burbs)

 

[Eastoff]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

A walk around the streets of Portland are pretty telling these days.

And don't get me started about Beaverton and Lake Oswego!
http://digitaljournal.com/life/life...s-a-white-woman-in-the-suburbs/article/384981

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

This is a growing problem (heroin addiction)

Kids who are into sports can get very intense these days (clubs, playing year round, core training, personal trainer), this has led to an increase in sports injuries. Doctors prescribe oxycontin/oxycodone . . . then when they stop the prescription, the kids turn to heroin as a substitute.

This is happening through a whole cross section of the community . . . good kids from good families are getting addicted to heroin.

(Not saying this is how all the kids are getting hooked, but one of the reasons heroin addiction has become a growing problem, especially in the burbs)

It's hard to think that doctor prescribed drugs are the real gateway drug.

 

[MarAzul]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

I hear we are going fix some of this. Make some of them (drugs) legal. Geez, what a plan.

 

[Eastoff]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

It's hard to think that doctor prescribed drugs are the real gateway drug.

Really? You mean drugs that are opium based are not an introduction to other opium based drugs?

 

[Eastoff]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

I hear we are going fix some of this. Make some of them (drugs) legal. Geez, what a plan.

Could you expand on the heroin legalization?

 

[BlazerWookee]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

Wow.

Wow, indeed. Doesn't anybody proofread anymore?

"The proliferation of rogue pharmacies that dispense CPDs without a prescription and do not comply with pharmacy laws and standards will continue to be a public health and safety," the report added.

 

[jlprk]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

The gateway to getting a prescription is getting sick.

Sickness should be illegal. Clean up all the sickos. When you get pneumonia, be a man. Tough it out and don't bother the doctor.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

The gateway to getting a prescription is getting sick.

Sickness should be illegal. Clean up all the sickos. When you get pneumonia, be a man. Tough it out and don't bother the doctor.

If we just did better at handling illness, this wouldn't happen.

 

[santeesioux]

Re: Oregon ranks fourth in the country in the percentage of residents using illegal d

Just take a walk through rural Oregon and you would know this is true.