Rhode Island

• There were a total of 319 adult arrests for the sale/manufacturing of opium or cocaine in Providence, Rhode Island in 2001.
• The Providence, Rhode Island Police Department states that local crack-distributing gangs are responsible for 30% of the shootings in the city.
• In 2001, there were a total of 52 drug-related deaths reported to the Drug Abuse Warning Network by Medical Examiners in the Providence, Rhode Island area.
• Providence, Rhode Island has emerged as a regional transshipment city where criminal groups ship heroin and cocaine to areas all over the state and New England region.
• The Providence, Rhode Island Police Department reports that Bloods, Crips, Eastside, Latin Kings, Southside, Taylor Street, and Westend are the primary street gangs that distribute drugs in Providence, Rhode Island.
• Drugs are increasingly being transported aboard commercial fishing vessels that arrive in Providence, Rhode Island.
• An increase has been noted in the number of packages containing cocaine. These packages are being shipped via package delivery services to Providence, Rhode Island.
• In 2001, Operation Jetway efforts resulted in the seizure of a total of 58 kilograms of marijuana and 1 kilogram of heroin from commercial airline flights arriving in the Providence, Rhode Island area.
• In December 2001, officials in Providence, Rhode Island seized the following drug amounts as part of Operation Clean Sweep:
  • 5 kilograms of crack
  • 2.7 kilograms of powder cocaine
  • nearly ½ kilogram of heroin
  • and more than 3,400 MDMA tablets

Drugs

• Cocaine: The Providence, Rhode Island law enforcement officials report that cocaine readably is high.
• Heroin: According to the National Drug Threat Survey 2002, law enforcement in Providence, Rhode Island states that the level of heroin availability is high in their jurisdiction.
• Club Drugs: Ecstasy is found at various nightclubs in Providence, Rhode Island. During 2003, GHB sold for $30- $50/bottle at the wholesale level in Providence, Rhode Island.

Across the United States, drug use is a cause for concern. For more and more individuals, drug use (including hard drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin) is becoming a part of their daily lives. This raises concern that the country may be entering a period of drug use unseen since the '70s.

This increase in drug use affects not only the drug user, but also their family and friends. They suffer along with the drug addict through their ups, downs, sobriety, and intoxication. This can be very stressful for those who care about an individual with a drug addiction.

The physical and physiological health of a person who has a drug addiction is also a concern. Drug use can lead to health problems ranging from heart trouble to memory loss. These issues may have long term consequences, and at times may be deadly. Drug overdose is one such trend that is monitored across the United States. Sadly, many people die each year due to an overdose of drugs or alcohol.

Crime is also a factor when it comes to drug addiction. Many find they must spend more and more money to meet the needs of their drug addiction. This can lead to robbery, prostitution, scams and so on. Often times, those who are taken to jail are either intoxicated at the time of their arrest or are committing a crime to support their drug habit.

Although drug trends throughout the United States vary year to year, drugs are always a problem. Even when statistics are low for drug abuse, drug related crime, and drug treatment admissions, it is important to remember that it is still a cause for concern. Monitoring drug trends helps in determining where there are high amounts of drug use and how these areas may correlate with crime, addiction treatment, and health care.

This site, United States Drug Trends, will keep you informed of the current drug trends taking place throughout the United States. Use this site to educate yourself and increase your awareness of what is happening in the state you live in.