New York Drug Statistics Awareness is Key

The state of New York holds the most diverse ethnic population in the entire country. This makes it easy for drug trafficking organizations to fit in with the crowds and go unnoticed. Drug trafficking groups in New York come from ethnic backgrounds such as Hispanic, Asian and Jamaican. Additionally, the very complex transportation systems like roadways, airplanes and water ports in the state allow the traffickers to transport their drugs with ease. In fact, surveys taken during the year 2001 indicated New York as being the largest drug supply location in 24 states. The state of New York was reported to be the main source of drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana. The original source of these drugs is typically over the border in Canada. New York shares 400 miles of border with Canada. Colombian and Dominican drug trafficking organizations are mostly at fault for the rising New York drug statistics as they are the primary sources for wholesale amounts which are being sold in the state. Although, Mexican drug rings are slowly making their way into the drug trafficking trade in the state.

Wholesale amounts of heroin, cocaine and MDMA are taken quite often by local law enforcement in the state of New York and this trend seems to be getting worse, not better. Drug traffickers practice a form of polydrug sales so that they are able to provide several drugs at a time to abusers on the streets and therefore, are trafficking more mixed drug packages into the state. Additional drugs seized include cannabis and meth in smaller amounts.

New York drug statistics show that there is an increase in the amount of drugs widely abused in the state. Drug treatment admissions during the year 2001 reported an increase from 193,526 in 1997 to 206,212. Furthermore, New York has a 1,065/100,000 ratio of people admitted to treatment centers for drug abuse.

Drug addiction is not a laughing matter although, many people turn their back on the issue time and time again. In order for people to become aware of the rising drug issues in the state of New York, they need to really understand the devastating effects that drugs have on the lives of those who use them as well as the way they affect the communities in which they are present in. Drugs not only cause destruction and devastation to communities with the associated violence, they also cause death.

According to the New York drug statistics from previous years, there are many drug deaths that take place in the state. During the year 1999, there were 729 drug related deaths in the state which rose to 924 in the year 2000. Of these total drug deaths in New York, there were 154 of them in which drugs alone were the main cause of death.

Drugs often attack the most vulnerable people in the population. This includes the old, the mentally ill and even the young. Statistics from 99 show that a great number of high school kids were using drugs. The reports show that during this time, 41.3% of the population of high school kids in the state claimed that they had smoked cannabis at one point or another. A further 6.8% of high school kids had used cocaine, 6.4% used meth and 2.6% had used heroin. These are very shocking numbers to see especially, when you are a parent of a high school kid.

It is often the kids in fact that are faced with the most temptations of drug abuse in New York. This is because drug dealers do not care who they sell to or where even. Reports tell that 25.7% of all high school kids in the state had been approached by drug dealers and had either been given, bought or sold illicit drugs on school grounds.

There are drug treatment centers in the state of New York that can provide teen drug abuse services. These services are specialized for teens to help them get off the drugs successfully and live a normal life. However, the teen or the parent must make the first step in order for the drug abuse services to work.

If you find that your teen is using drugs, you should know that you are not alone. Drug treatment centers provide youth services that are centered around support from dedicated staff, professional counselors and other parents just like you. Together, there is a likely chance that your child can successfully get off the drugs and be a teenager again.

It is alarming when a parent finds out that their child is abusing drugs. Some parents though, overlook the issues of drug addiction because they are not aware of the signs or are too embarrassed to admit that their child has a drug abuse problem. It is this denial though that causes many youths to die each year from drug overdose. Parents need to know what is going on in their childrens lives so that they can seek help right away if their child is found to be abusing drugs. Children are the future of this world and if they are abusing drugs then, we are promised a future of drug abusers as well.

Remember that awareness is the biggest weapon in the war on drugs and drug abuse. People and communities must be aware of the dangers that drugs bring with them and the devastation that they cause to the communities. Without the awareness, the drugs rule the populations sneaking into peoples lives and ripping families apart before their presence is even known.

When a teen is admitted for drug rehab services, there are combined support efforts into getting them off the drugs. These efforts include social service help, counseling and group support as well as awareness. Teens may not realize the importance of living a drug free life and they may not see what the big deal is. This is where the drug treatment services as well as the parents and communities can step in and make them aware. It is important that drug addiction is treated as soon as possible so that the abuser has a higher chance of getting off the drugs and living a fuller, more productive life.