Cocaine: Cocaine HCL and crack combined constitute the greatest drug threat in Ohio. Cocaine is transported into Ohio from the southwest border, including California and Texas, as well as from Miami, Florida and New York City. Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois serve as transshipment points and distribution centers for cocaine shipped from the southwest border and transported throughout Ohio. Mexican and Dominican criminal groups and to a lesser extent other ethnic criminal groups are the principal transporters and wholesale distributors of multi-kilogram quantities of powdered cocaine in Ohio. Gram quantities sell between $100-$120, ounce quantities $750-$1400, and kilograms $22,500-$32,000. The purity levels range from 80 to 90 percent. The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services data indicates that the number of treatment admissions for cocaine abuse for 2002 was 9,672.

Heroin: Heroin distribution and abuse are increasing in Ohio. Heroin signature analysis indicates that South American and Mexican black tar are prevalent in the northern Ohio region. In the southern Ohio region Mexican black tar heroin is predominant. Dominican criminal groups control the distribution of South American heroin, while Mexican criminal groups control the distribution of Mexican black tar heroin. At the retail-level, African-American, Dominican, and Mexican criminal groups are involved in heroin distribution. Heroin is shipped into Ohio from major distribution centers such as Chicago, Detroit, New York and various cities along the southwest border. Heroin is also transported on commercial airline flights into Ohio. Wholesalers use major Ohio cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo as distribution centers for smaller cities in and outside the state. Gram quantities sell between $140-$250 and ounce quantities $2400-$7000. The purity levels range from 47 to 48 percent for gram and ounce quantities respectively. The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services data indicates the number of treatment admissions for heroin abuse increased overall from 5,769 in 2001 to 6,878 in 2002.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine manufacturing and use are increasing in the state of Ohio. The most noticeable trend is the continuing upsurge of methamphetamine laboratories. The number of labs seized during 2002 continued to increase from 87 in 2001 to 88 in 2002. Local independent criminal groups, outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG's) and, to a lesser extent, Mexican criminal groups are primarily responsible for shipping methamphetamine into and distributing it throughout Ohio. Methamphetamine is also shipped into Ohio predominantly through mail and package delivery services. Methamphetamine distribution has also increased at "Raves" and on college campuses in Ohio. Amphetamine/methamphetamine abuse in Ohio is prevalent and comparative to rates of abuse in other states in the region.

Club Drugs: The use of Club Drugs such as Ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, Ketamine, and LSD has steadily increased in Ohio. Club Drugs are growing in popularity among young adults and juveniles, particularly in most urban areas of the state where "Rave" parties are also increasing. MDMA is the club drug of choice and represents the greatest future threat to Ohio's youth. Most MDMA available in Ohio is produced outside the United States, typically in laboratories in the Netherlands and Belgium and transported through express mail services and by couriers on commercial airlines through distribution centers such as Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. MDMA also reaches Ohio from Canada via the state of New York and is transported via the interstate highways and public modes of transportation. Most traffickers of MDMA are loose-knit independent entrepreneurs. Retail dealers typically are suburban teenagers, usually high school or college students. The pills are sold at an average price of $25 per pill.

Marijuana:Marijuana continues to be the most widely abused and readily available illicit drug throughout the state of Ohio. The available supply of marijuana ranges from pound to multi-hundred pound quantities. Ohio is a source area for marijuana. The rural areas of Ohio provide an adequate environment for the outdoor cultivation of cannabis, most of which occurs in the southern part of the state. In northern Ohio, the use of hydroponics and other sophisticated indoor growing techniques that produce sinsemilla with a high THC content continues to increase. Mexican marijuana is also frequently encountered in the state of Ohio. The marijuana is shipped from the southwest border states. Large quantities are shipped into Ohio mainly overland, and smaller quantities through package delivery services and the mail. Mexican criminal groups are the dominant wholesale suppliers of marijuana in Ohio. They supply multi-hundred kilogram quantities of marijuana to most districts throughout the state. Local independent and Jamaican criminal groups also are responsible for shipping and distributing wholesale amounts of marijuana into Ohio in multi-kilogram quantities. Ounce quantities of marijuana sell between $100-$250, pound quantities $800-$4000, and kilogram quantities $1800-$3000. The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services data indicates that the number of treatment admissions for marijuana abuse increased from 17, 619 in 2001 to 17, 896 in 2002.

Other Drugs: Pseudoephedrine is a precursor chemical used in the production of methamphetamine. Pseudoephedrine trafficking cells controlled by Middle Eastern traffickers are based in Ohio. These traffickers coordinate the transshipment of pseudoephedrine from Canada to methamphetamine "super labs" in California. Mexican criminal groups control the "super labs". The pseudoephedrine traffickers primarily operate as brokers and coordinate the transportation of multi-hundred dosage units of pseudoephedrine.

OxyContin: The diversion and abuse of OxyContin represent a significant drug threat to Ohio. OxyContin, a powerful pain reliever whose effects are the same as other opiate derivatives, is obtained legally through prescriptions as well as illegally on the street. Formerly seen as a drug of abuse primarily among the Caucasian population, law enforcement officials in Ohio report increasing abuse among African Americans. According to the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, the abuse of OxyContin is increasing in northern Ohio among youth - many of whom have begun abusing heroin when they could no longer obtain or afford OxyContin. Continued incidents of overdoses and drug-related deaths were reported throughout the state during 2002. Also, a direct connection between abuse of this drug and drug-related robberies has been established.