Title:

Illinois Drug Threat Assessment Update

Publication Date: May 2002
Original Publication: January 2001

Document ID: 2002-S0382IL-001

Archived on: January 1, 2006. This document may contain dated information. It remains available to provide access to historical materials.

This report is a brief update to the Illinois Drug Threat Assessment, which is a strategic assessment of the status and outlook of the drug threat to Illinois. Analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transportation, and distribution, as well as the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society as a whole. While NDIC sought to incorporate the latest available information, a time lag often exists between collection and publication of data. NDIC anticipates that this update will be useful to policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and treatment providers at the federal, state, and local levels.

The Illinois Drug Threat Assessment was produced in January 2001 and is available on NDIC's web site www.usdoj.gov/ndic or by contacting the NDIC dissemination line at 814-532-4541.

Your questions, comments, and suggestions for future subjects are welcome at any time. Addresses are provided at the end of the page.
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Overview

Cocaine

Heroin

Marijuana

Methamphetamine

Other Dangerous Drugs
MDMA
GHB
Ketamine
PCP
LSD
Diverted Pharmaceuticals

Outlook

List of Tables

Table 1. Drug-Related Treatment Admissions, Illinois, FY1999-FY2001
Table 2. Emergency Department Mentions, Chicago, 1996-2000

Overview

Illinois, particularly the Chicago area, is a national transportation hub and distribution center for illicit drugs. Major drug trafficking organizations, criminal groups, and street gangs supply cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs to drug markets within and outside the state.

Cocaine is the most significant drug threat to Illinois. It is readily available throughout the state, and its distribution and abuse have been consistently linked to violent crime. Heroin poses the next greatest drug threat to the state, particularly in the Chicago area. It is widely available, and the user population appears to be growing. Marijuana is the most readily available and commonly abused illicit drug in Illinois. Methamphetamine production and abuse are expanding in rural areas of central and southern Illinois, posing an increasing threat. Other dangerous drugs such as MDMA, GHB, ketamine, PCP, LSD, and diverted pharmaceuticals are emerging threats throughout the state.