As in most other U.S. states, Nevada continues to face a growing drug and alcohol problem. Nevada as a whole has a population of just over 2.6 million people, with over 85 percent residing in just two counties—Washoe and Clark. The remaining 15 counties in the state are very sparsely populated. As a result of this population distribution, most drug [Page 568]policies and programs are concentrated in these counties (e.g., Reno and Las Vegas), though there has been an effort to enhance substance use and gambling addiction programming in rural areas. Owing to Nevada's drug problems and high-density cities, in 2001 Washoe and Clark Counties were designated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.

The most recent statewide statistics ...