Cocaine: Although most drug seizures and arrests are attributed to marijuana, cocaine hydrochloride and crack cocaine continue to be a huge drug threat in Alabama. The addictive nature of cocaine destroys otherwise productive lives and the violence associated with cocaine distribution cripples many of Alabama's lower income neighborhoods. Although cocaine use has no ethnic or geographical boundaries in Alabama, cocaine street-level distribution is dominated by the African American culture. A large percentage of Alabama's cocaine is supplied by Mexican sources in California, Arizona, and Texas, however Alabama's proximity to Atlanta and Miami also poses a significant threat. Atlanta is a huge transportation hub for both airline and tractor-trailer traffic, thus posing a drug transportation threat to Alabama. Miami has always been a major international drug importation center and several of Alabama's drug trafficking organizations have ties to the southern Florida area.

Heroin: Heroin has not been a significant factor in Alabama in past years, however intelligence indicates that more recently the presence of heroin is on the rise. Most of the heroin in Alabama is transported from Jamaica; however, a recent sample from a seizure indicated the origination of the drug was New York. Of the heroin found in Alabama, the drug is not only becoming available in a purer form, it also is becoming more affordable.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine has become the biggest drug threat in Alabama. Although marijuana continues to be the number one drug of choice, methamphetamine has surpassed cocaine in abuse across the state. An intelligence and enforcement effort has been initiated in Alabama to identify major drug trafficking organizations involved in methamphetamine importation, manufacture, and distribution. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of clandestine labs discovered in Jackson, Marshall, Etowah, Madison, Houston, Baldwin, DeKalb, and Walker counties. Methamphetamine labs are found principally in isolated, rural communities. Seizures and intelligence show that bulk methamphetamine distribution in Alabama is dominated by DTOs supplied by sources in Mexico with transportation routes based in California, Arizona, and Texas. These Mexican DTOs utilize tractor-trailer trucks, rented or personal vehicles, airlines, and U.S. Postal Service or commercial carriers to transport methamphetamine to Alabama. Street level methamphetamine distribution and use is divided into both the Hispanic and Caucasian cultures. The gaining popularity of methamphetamine abuse in small towns and communities is directly responsible for the increase in thefts, violent assaults, and burglaries. In-state methamphetamine production is becoming a significant issue in Louisiana. EPIC statistics reported 201 laboratories seized in CY 2002 compared to 33 laboratories in CY 2003 to date.

Club Drugs: “Club Drug” abuse and distribution among young people is on the rise in Alabama. Increases in arrests, overdoses and seizures of these designer drugs have been reported and indicate a trend toward increased availability and trafficking of Ecstasy, LSD, and Ketamine. MDMA, LSD, GHB, and Ketamine are readily available throughout the state, more commonly found on college campuses and at rave venues. GHB and MDMA have emerged as the club drugs of choice and the end-users are young Caucasians at all economic levels but users are particularly college students and rave participants. Alabama’s stateside sources of supply include Miami, Florida,
Tennessee, and Georgia.

Marijuana: : Marijuana has always had a strong presence in Alabama. However, in the past few years, a transformation has been seen in the level of dealers in the area and in the size of loads commonly seized, especially in the Huntsville area. Only a few years ago, a seizure of 10 pounds of marijuana was fairly rare, and was considered a rather significant seizure. Today, it is not uncommon for Huntsville to seize loads of 50 to 100 pounds. The overall production of marijuana within the state continues to decline while the transportation into the state via the highway system is on the increase. The main sources of marijuana coming into the state continues to be from Mexico with connections to South America as well as through port cities of Florida and the Port of Mobile. African American and Mexican criminal groups transport multi-kilogram to multi-hundred kilogram shipments of marijuana to Alabama from the Southwest Border. Marijuana is typically transported into the state via commercial and private vehicles, and via package delivery and express mail services. Even though the highway system is a confirmed route for most of the marijuana seized in the state, another strong possibly could be the International Airports in the state.

Club Drugs: The use and distribution of Ecstasy has continued to increase in Alabama. Intelligence reports indicate the sources of supply for Ecstasy in Alabama include Miami, Florida; Germany; Auburn, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennessee with most coming from Atlanta, Georgia. While Ecstasy is still the number one "club" drug of choice, GHB and the analogs are growing. GHB has become a significant threat in Alabama. Investigations have revealed solvents that contain GHB analogs are being obtained from the Internet. GHB overdoses have been reported in the Ozark/Dothan, Birmingham, Auburn, Mobile, Huntsville, and Decatur areas of Alabama. LSD, which can be found in many forms, has not seen a large increase of abuse in Alabama over the past several years.

Pharmaceuticals: Alabama continues to see an increase in diverted pharmaceuticals across the state. OxyContin is still the number one pharmaceutical drug abused across the state. The sale and production of Vicodin has increased in recent years slightly, along with the illegal use of the drug. In addition, current intelligence and investigations indicate that Alabama is a major market for Dilaudid. Distribution in Alabama has increased due to the fact that the price of heroin in the New York area has fallen dramatically causing the bottom to fall out of the market for Dilaudid. Distribution organizations are targeting the metropolitan areas of Alabama, as the price they receive for Dilaudid is higher in Alabama than in the source areas.