Florida Methamphetamine Trends
- Florida
ranks 13th nationwide in CY 2006 for methamphetamine seizures
(34.9 kilograms);
-
Florida ranked 15th nationwide in CY 2005 for methamphetamine seizures
(37 kilograms) & in CY 2004 Florida ranked 10th nationwide
(44 kilograms) nationwide;
- Dramatic increase in methamphetamine labs statewide commencing in
FY 2002:
-
FY 2006 (Oct 2005 – Sept 2006) – 245 labs
-
FY 2005 (Oct 2004 – Sept 2005) – 341 labs
-
FY 2004 (Oct 2003 – Sept 2004) – 332 labs
-
FY 2003 (Oct 2002 – Sept 2003) – 229 labs
-
FY 2002 (Oct 2001 – Sept 2002) – 129 labs
-
FY 2001 (Oct 2000 – Sept 2001) – 28 labs
Florida Trafficking - Labs
-
The Florida Panhandle & north Florida counties, particularly
Bay County, remain at the center of clandestine laboratory production;
-
Labs have mushroomed in central Florida, especially Brevard, Lake & Volusia
counties;
- Labs tend to be small scale, producing an average of 1 to 2 ounces
of methamphetamine; labs operators are primarily user/dealers;
- Labs can be established anywhere (e.g. residential areas, hotel rooms,
tool sheds, furniture moving trucks or vans);
-
Potential for lab explosions makes them highly dangerous & environmental
pollution nuisance;
- Average clean-up cost is $3,000 per lab;
-
Acts of violence & possession of weapons by lab operators.
Methamphetamine use in Florida
- Average user ranges from 18 to 50 years old
- Methamphetamine is used in combination with other drugs, such as
MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Methamphetamine usage leads to:
- Cardiac arrest
- Respiratory distress
- Stroke
- Suicidal tendencies
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Chemical burns
-
High-risk sexual behavior – HIV/Hepatitis/Syphilis
- Self-destructiveness
- Paranoia
- Psychotic episodes
- Skin lesions
- Tooth decay
Methamphetamine abuse in Florida
(Source: Florida Medical Examiners Reports)
- In
2006 (Jan-June) there were 58 methamphetamine-related deaths
- In 2005 there were 115 methamphetamine-related deaths
- In 2004 there were 93 methamphetamine-related deaths
- In 2003 there were 77 methamphetamine-related deaths
- In 2002 there were 126 methylated amphetamine-related* deaths
- In 2001 there were 147 methylated amphetamine-related* deaths
*
Includes methamphetamine & MDMA;
prior to 2003 methamphetamine was not a separate category
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