Cocaine is a tremendous problem in Lubbock. According to representatives of the Narcotic Intelligence Division of the
Lubbock Police Department, and street purchases of drugs, cocaine is available in both powder and "crack" forms.
Powder cocaine is being distributed by Mexican independent dealers with direct ties to Mexican cartels, and by white
independents and organizations with whom they are connected to. Cocaine addiction treatment in Texas is on the rise as traffickers are increasing distribution.
The availability of heroin has increased over the past year in Lubbock. Police and street addicts report that there are
numerous sources to score heroin and that the papers are now larger and priced at $20 per piece and $150 to $200 per
gram. The quality of heroin in Lubbock is reported to be very good. Brown Mexican heroin is back in this part of Texas and
reported to be three times the purity of black tar heroin. The distributors are Mexican Americans or Mexican Nationals.
Prescription drug addiction is causing a spike in treatment for heroin addiction.
Virtually all heroin being abused in the Lubbock area is done through injection, or intravenously, although there have
been incidents of heroin abusers snorting the drug by Lubbock drug treatment programs. Lubbock drug rehabs are still
seeing cocaine being injected along with heroin but not usually as a "speedball." This is a significant substance problem
with serious physical damage. With the lack of treatment centers in Lubbock many people seek drug rehab centers in
Dallas for more comprehensive treatment options.
There is also a new generation of middle and upper class white addicts. There is very little mention of other opiates by
addicts surveyed or Lubbock police department officials other than on occasion Diluadid is available through physician
scripts. Prescription drug addiction treatment in Texas is on the
rise as it is all over Texas and the rest of the country. This contributes to the heroin addiction problem when prescription
painkillers with opiate derivatives similar to heroin become inaccessible.
The availability of marijuana in Lubbock has increased considerably in recent times. Marijuana grown in Texas, Oklahoma,
California, Arizona and New Mexico can be found on Lubbock streets if you can trust the word of the drug dealers.
According to police, young Hispanic gangs control the distribution of marijuana grown in Mexico and white independent
organizations control the flow and sell of Colombian marijuana coming into Lubbock. Local police officers are frustrated
by changes in marijuana possession laws that restrict felony convictions of traffickers.
Some Lubbock drug rehab and treatment counselors are convinced that the availability of marijuana on Lubbock streets
of high grade marijuana is a direct result of relaxed possession laws. Increased availability has caused marijuana abuse
by younger age groups some as young as age 9. States with relaxed marijuana laws have caused admissions to treatment
centers for marijuana addiction to increase by one third. Marijuana treatment
admissions are surpassing alcohol and substance abuse in Lubbock for the first time due to more tolerant views on
marijuana abuse.
Narcotic officers report an explosion of stimulants especially "speed" on the streets of Lubbock. Inpatient treatment
centers in Lubbock report a continuous increase in the numbers of amphetamine and methamphetamine addicts.
Reports from street addicts validate that "it is everywhere." Mexico is said to be the origin of most of this speed because
Mexican American independents are distributing it to high school and college age white youths. Lubbock police officers
believe that speed comes to Lubbock after being channeled through California and Arizona first. Other officers say it
could be channeled through most ports of entry along the United States/Mexico border.
Regardless the statistics on drug and alcohol abuse in Lubbock and the comparisons, more people need alcohol treatment
in Lubbock than are entering treatment for any other drug. Alcohol abuse and addiction is by far the heaviest burden on
society with well over 40% of Texas high school students admitting alcohol abuse on a consistent basis. Treatment for
alcohol addiction should be Lubbockâs number one concern. Alcohol treatment centers
in Lubbock do exist but operate at capacity for the most part
