Alcohol Abuse in El Paso is major problem with binge drinking levels for men were higher than women, 29.2% vs. 8% respectively. Except for the 25-34 age groups, alcohol abuse and substance abuse in El Paso are at higher levels of alcoholics abusing alcohol by binge drinking than the rest of Texas. 26.2% of 18-24 year olds reported binge drinking and participating in alcohol abuse in the last 30 days. Overall, the frequency of alcohol abuse in El Paso by binge drinking was 18.1% vs. 15.3% for the State of Texas. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
Addicts entering treatment for marijuana addiction are increasing as marijuana is the most abused illicit drug in El Paso and Texas as a whole. Marijuana is prevalent in El Paso with the average price for a pound of commercial grade marijuana in El Paso is $200.
Methamphetamine is obviously available in El Paso and the second leading drug of abuse in the area. ICE is the purestform of methamphetamine and sells for $22,000 a pound in El Paso. Drug rehab centers in El Paso are seeing that methamphetamine treatment is by far the most difficult to deal with as the psychosis brought by meth abuse is hard to discern from what many feel are permanent symptoms.
Cocaine is abundant throughout El Paso with treatment for cocaine addiction increasing over the last few years, with ample supply and subsequent decrease in costs. An ounce of powder cocaine costs $550 and a gram of powder cocaine costs $50-$60 in El Paso. An ounce of crack cocaine costs $500, while a gram of crack typically costs $10-20. (Source: ONDCP) Cocaine coming from Mexico up from Colombia is supplied throughout El Paso and surrounding areas increasing the demand on El Paso drug rehab facilities.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), black tar heroin was the predominant type of heroin found in El Paso during 2005. An ounce of black tar heroin typically costs $1,000 in El Paso. During 2004, heroin was 50.5% pure and cost $0.27 per milligram. Heroin abuse and addiction are expected to rise for a few reasons, one being many young people are getting hooked on prescription pain killers and turning to heroin because of cheaper prices and being easier to obtain, and two, Mexican drug cartels have increased heroin distribution efforts by about 350%. (Source: DEA)
Club Drugs Ecstasy, Rohypnol, and other pharmaceuticals are being used at rave parties in El Paso County with other drugs like Morphine, Demerol, Darvocet, Codeine, Vicodin cough syrup, and Fentanyl being the major diverted pharmaceutical drugs of abuse in El Paso. Prescription drug addiction in El Paso is on the rise just like other areas of Texas and the country.