Georgia Laws and Programs

Types of Drugs Used in Georgia

In Atlanta, marijuana is believed to be the most frequently abused drug, and epidemiological data suggesting increasing use. Besides bulk marijuana transported from Mexico, marijuana is locally grown in Georgia, and in 2008 over 50,000 cultivated marijuana plants were eradicated by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program. Methamphetamine is the fastest-growing drug problem in Atlanta with increasing availability of crystal meth (“ice”), and is a threat across the state as well. However, the increased supply of Mexican-manufactured methamphetamine has resulted in less local production and in 2008 there were only 78 meth lab incidents in Georgia (versus 156 in 2006). Another factor contributing to the decrease in methamphetamine lab seizures is the recent trend to produce methamphetamine in smaller quantities in mobile labs in what is known as the “shake and bake” method. These mobile methamphetamine producers are more difficult to apprehend than are immobile labs that produce larger quantities of methamphetamine.

Cocaine and crack cocaine are widely available throughout Georgia: generally powder cocaine is transported to the state in bulk and converted by local dealers into crack. In Atlanta high levels of violence and property crime are attributed in part to distribution and abuse of crack. Georgia is a transit and distribution point for heroin, primarily from southwest Asia and South America, but heroin use is of less concern with the exception of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Club drugs including MDMA, GHB, and ketamine are readily available at many sites frequented by young people, including college campuses, rave parties, and concerts and clubs. Hydrocodone and oxycodone products (e.g., Vicodin, OxyContin) are the most commonly [Page 312]diverted prescription drugs, although methadone is also becoming popular. Diversion of prescription depressants, especially benzodiazepines, is also increasing, with alprazolam (Xanax) the most commonly diverted prescription drug.

From 2006 to 2007, almost 10 percent of Georgia residents age 12 or older reported using marijuana in the past year, with 5.7 percent reporting use in the past month. Almost as many (5.23 percent) reported nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past month, while 3.31 percent reported use of an illicit drug other than marijuana in the past month. From 2006 to 2007, 2.79 percent of Georgia citizens reported unmet needs for substance abuse treatment.

Among youths age 12–17, 11.57 percent reported use of marijuana in the past year and 8.34 percent in the past month, 6.79 reported nonmedical use of pain relievers in the past year, and 4.21 reported use of an illicit drug other than marijuana in the past year. A separate poll of Georgia high school seniors taken in 2007 reported 38.1 percent lifetime use of marijuana (8.1 percent before age 13), 19.6 percent current use of marijuana, 11.4 percent lifetime use of inhalants, and 7.7 percent lifetime use of ecstasy.

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