The U.S. Justice Department issues a yearly report on the threat created by illegal drugs in the United States. This National Drug Threat Assessment is a lengthy report that discusses various drugs, where they come from, who is using them, who is selling them, how drug dealing is financed, the effects of illegal drugs on society and other issues on a macro scale. Some of the highlights of the report are as follows.
More than 35 million people used illegal drugs or abused prescription drugs in 2007.
More than 52% of all inmates in federal prisons are there due to drug offenses.
Cocaine is the leading drug threat in the U.S., and the vast majority of cocaine comes from Mexico across the U.S.-Mexican border. However, the availability of cocaine has decreased in most U.S. markets.
Methamphetamine is the second leading drug threat in the U.S. followed by marijuana, heroin, prescription drugs and ecstasy (MDMA). Methamphetamine production is expected to increase from 2007 levels along with domestic growing of marijuana (cannabis). The potency of marijuana has also increased.
Illegal prescription drug distribution is on the increase.
The entire report can be found here.