Cocaine: Cocaine is usually transported to Tennessee in multi-kilogram quantities from source cities in the western United States and from Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and California. Hamilton, Davidson, and Shelby counties are considered the distribution hubs for the state. Abusers of cocaine in Tennessee tend to consume the drug in crack form-a change from the preferred cocaine HCl abuse of a few years ago-making crack the current most popular drug of abuse among Tennessee residents. Tennessee has seen a significant increase in the trafficking activities of structured Mexican trafficking organizations. These structured groups respond to command and control elements in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and Mexico. In July 2002, Tennessee's 21st Judicial District Drug Task Force seized seven kilograms of cocaine in Humphreys County that had been secreted in an electronically controlled false compartment near the vehicle's air bag. In September of 2002 DEA Nashville seized 30 kilograms of cocaine from local traffickers who had received the cocaine from Mexican traffickers based in Texas.

Heroin:Heroin use in Tennessee is limited to a very small number of long-time users. The heroin trafficking situation has been very stable in the state for the past five years, though an increase in heroin availability was reported in Memphis recently. Also, despite attempts by traffickers from Philadelphia to reestablish a heroin distribution organization in eastern Tennessee, no great change in the demand for the drug is indicated by other factors in Tennessee. The sources of Mexican Black Tar and Southeast Asian heroin in Tennessee are Texas and New York, respectively.

Methamphetamine: The availability and demand for methamphetamine continues to increase throughout Tennessee. Much of the methamphetamine consumed in the state is transported from Mexico and the Southwest Border area. Clandestine methamphetamine labs can be found anywhere in Tennessee and are encountered almost daily by law enforcement. Tennessee accounts for 75 percent of the methamphetamine lab seizures in the Southeast. These facts are a stark contrast to the problem of a few years ago. The labs that are discovered in Tennessee are generally characterized as small and unsophisticated, and it is the product of these labs most often encountered and seized by law enforcement. These clandestine methamphetamine labs pose a significant threat because lab operators are frequently armed and are substantially involved in the drug's distribution. Southeast Tennessee has seen a significant increase in the activities of structured Mexican methamphetamine trafficking groups. These groups control much of the methamphetamine distribution in the Chattanooga area. Command and control for these Mexican organizations are frequently found in the Dalton, Ga. area. In addition, there is anticipation of an increase in methamphetamine use in Tennessee as the drug gains popularity over crack cocaine use.

Club Drugs: Tennessee has a growing “Club Drugs’ problem, with MDMA (ecstasy), LSD and GHB being the most common drugs of abuse. Rave Clubs, where these drugs are frequently sold, have been identified in the cities of Nashville and Knoxville.

Marijuana: Marijuana abuse and trafficking is a serious problem throughout the state and especially in rural areas. Tennessee is a major supplier of domestically grown marijuana. In fact, according to the Appalachia HIDTA Threat Assessment, Tennessee, along with West Virginia and Kentucky, produce the majority of the United States' supply of domestic marijuana. Prosecution of marijuana growers in the state has been extremely difficult due to an intelligence gap and because many of the domestic marijuana sites detected are so small that even if the owner/grower were identified, the U.S. Attorney would be reluctant to prosecute. There have also been seizures of Mexican marijuana in the state. Marijuana is favored over other drugs of abuse by some in certain areas of Tennessee.

Other Drugs: Distribution of Ecstasy (MDMA) and LSD, especially in and around the college campuses in Nashville and other areas, has been on the rise. These Club Drugs are abused primarily at "Rave" parties and are transported into the area from New York, Georgia, and Florida. Diverted pharmaceuticals also pose a problem in Tennessee. A special ARCOS report recently, which was prepared for the Tennessee Medical Board, showed that consumption of the following drugs was significantly above average in Tennessee: hydromorphone, hydrocodone, meperidine, and amphetamine. Dilaudid and morphine are also mentioned as heavily abused drugs in Tennessee. In FY 02, at least two DEA investigations outside the Atlanta Division targeted separate GBL distribution rings operating in Tennessee via the Internet.