Drugs in the United States: Oregon

Cocaine: Cocaine is available; however, it is not the preferred drug with most drug abusers in the state. Heroin and methamphetamine continue to be preferred by most drug abusers.

Heroin: Mexican black tar and brown heroin are the primary types of heroin distributed throughout Oregon, controlled by Hispanic poly-drug trafficking organizations. Heroin continues to be shipped from Mexico by a variety of methods, primarily by vehicles with hidden compartments. Heroin typically is transported overland to Portland via the 1-5 corridor from source cities in Mexico through traffickers in California. Many of the Hispanic traffickers belong to extended Mexican families from regions such as Nayarit and Michoacan, where traffickers use their familial contacts in Mexico and California to smuggle heroin into the state. These organizations also traffic in cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana (of Mexican origin).

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is one of the most widely abused controlled substances in Oregon. Two “varieties” are generally encountered-Mexican methamphetamine, which is either manufactured locally or obtained from sources in Mexico, California or other Southwest Border states, and methamphetamine which is produced locally by area violators. Of the two types, Mexican methamphetamine continues to flood the market. Methamphetamine is available in multi-pound amounts throughout western Oregon, and smaller quantities are available in Eastern Oregon. Canadian pseudoephedrine, utilized in the manufacture of methamphetamine, is frequently seized at clandestine laboratory sites.

Club Drugs: MDMA (Ecstasy) is available throughout the state, and multi-kilogram seizures are common. It is accessible in varying quantities in the larger cities and on college campuses, as well as outlying areas. GHB laboratories have been seized in conjunction with methamphetamine laboratories. Mexican Ketamine is also smuggled into the state.

Marijuana: Marijuana is readily available in Oregon. The majority of marijuana available in Portland is cultivated in home grow operations. Canadian and domestic marijuana in the Portland area is available in multi pound amounts. Mexican marijuana is present, but not prevalent. Medicinal Marijuana: In May 1999, Oregon voters approved an initiative that legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. In April of 2002 the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners suspended the license of one doctor who had approved at least 50% of the medical marijuana applications in Oregon, eight times more than any other licensed doctor. Mexican Marijuana: Mexican marijuana is transported using existing heroin and methamphetamine routes and methods. It is typically transported overland via 1-5 and us Highway 101 in western Oregon. Traffickers typically use passenger vehicles fitted with hidden compartments or attempt to otherwise conceal the drugs within the vehicle. Canadian Marijuana: Canadian marijuana smugglers use passenger vehicles, fishing vessels, private aircraft (fixed wing and helicopters), and mules to smuggle the drug into the state. Traffickers take advantage of rural airfields to smuggle large quantities of marijuana.

Other Drugs: The most commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs in the state are Hydrocodonel (Vicodin) and benzodiazepines (Xanax and Klonopin). Soma is a Schedule IV controlled drug in Oregon and is often used in combination with narcotic analgesics. The most prevalent methods of diversion are pharmacy theft and fraudulent prescriptions.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. There have been 348 deployments completed resulting in 14,794 arrests of violent drug criminals as of June 2002. There have been six MET deployments in the State of Oregon since the inception of the program: Woodburn, Madras, Klamath Falls, Washington County, Keizer, and Portland. These deployments resulted in 148 arrests and the seizure of 3.6 pounds of cocaine; 1 pound of crack cocaine; .8 pounds of heroin; 104 pounds of marijuana; and 10.6 pounds of methamphetamine. Also seized were 38 firearms, 11 vehicles and over $20,000 in U.S. currency and property.