Alaska Drug Statistics and Facts

• It is widely recognized that lots of the accidental deaths that happen in Alaska are linked to alcohol use. This is particularly true in the western regions of Alaska and is clearly shown through stats drawn from the Alaska State Trooper case management system.
• In 2011, of all cases initiated by the Alaska State Troopers, 33.6 percent involved alcohol and/or drugs. Of all violent crime cases, 59.5 percent involved alcohol and/or drugs.
• In Alaska, alcohol, Heroin, Marijuana, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and Cocaine have been identified as the main substances of abuse and are the focus of nearly all law enforcement efforts.
• In 2011, the number of methamphetamine labs investigated by the Alaska State Troopers, has declined from 11 labs in 2010 to 8 labs in 2011.
• In Alaska, criminal justice professionals realize that alcohol is the main substance of abuse and contributes to various violent, suicidal and accidental deaths, mostly in rural areas.
• In Alaska, Cocaine continues to be an extensively used and profitable drug for sale. Cocaine is easily accessible in many areas of the state and is recognized with surprising frequency in Crack Cocaine and powder form, in the main metropolitan areas like Fairbanks and Anchorage.
• Cocaine is taken into Alaska concealed on passengers or in luggage through ports of entry like the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and it is also shipped out via the US Post Office or commercial parcel companies like FedEx, DHL or UPS.
• The Cocaine brought into Alaska is normally packaged in kilogram quantities and then broken down by dealers into smaller portions for retail sale. The powder form, it is usually sold in gram quantities for $100-150 dollars, and its primary method of ingestion is by snorting.
• Heroin use is not limited to the metropolitan areas of Alaska. Undercover purchases and interdictions of Heroin have been reported in some smaller communities.
• Heroin is mainly imported into Alaska via body carries and parcels. Investigations have revealed that Heroin use crosses socio-economic boundaries.
• Marijuana is available throughout the state of Alaska and is seen as a gateway drug to different drugs for teenagers and young adults.
• The Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, in 2011, indicates that 21.2 percent of high school seniors used Marijuana within the last 30 days.
• Throughout the state of Alaska, the abuse of prescription drugs keeps on being a serious problem.
• In Alaska, there were 6,699 people who went to alcohol and drug rehabilitation, in 2010. Of this population, 39 percent were female, and 61 percent were male.
• About 12 percent of Alaskan residents reported past-month use of illegal drugs; the national average was 8 percent.
• During 2007 and 2008, Alaska was 1 of the top 10 states for rates in other drug-use categories.
• In 2006, according to the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, there were 70 treatment facilities in Alaska, in 2007.
• In 2010, there were reported 2,961 people who were admitted to substance abuse treatment for alcohol as the main substance of abuse and an additional 2,027 who went into treatment for alcohol mixed with a secondary drug.
• Rates of alcohol dependence and/or abuse in Alaska have been more variable than those for illegal drugs. In 2005-2006, those individuals 12 and older, 12 to 17, and 26 and older showed rates of prior year alcohol dependence among the highest in the country. The rate for the 18 to 25 age group was among the 10 lowest in the country.
• According to the Treatment Episode Data Set, there were 524 people who entered drug rehabilitation for Marijuana addiction in 2010. The largest age group taken into treatment was 12 to 17 year olds at 43.3 percent. In 2007 to 2008, Alaska was ranked 1st among all states for the rate of past-year Marijuana use among young adults age 26 and older.