Maryland Laws and Programs

Types of Drugs Used in Maryland

Drugs and weapons are often transmitted through Maryland's Baltimore Harbor to New York City. Baltimore Harbor's central location also allows ease of access for international drug shipments. The DEA identifies six main drugs that are abused in the state of Maryland. They are: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, club drugs, marijuana, and prescription drugs. Cocaine is distributed on the street in the form of cocaine hydrochloride (a white powder) or “crack” (cocaine hydrochloride processed with ammonia and water). Distribution in Maryland poses a threat to the cities within close proximity to Washington, D.C., as well as the eastern shore and western Maryland; violence plagues these areas. In addition to violence, crack cocaine is associated with increases in prostitution activities.

In the state of Maryland, heroin abuse is concentrated around the city of Baltimore, which has the reputation of being home to higher numbers of heroin addicts and heroin-related crime than any other city in the nation, according to the DEA. The drug is frequently distributed by local street gangs to teenagers and young adults due to its cheap price and availability. Methamphetamine is not widely available in Maryland and is currently only a minor problem for the state due to the low demand for the drug. However, methamphetamine from Mexico does occasionally appear on the street. MDMA, also known as ecstasy, is usually the club drug of choice in the state. Other club drugs such as ketamine (a rapid acting anesthetic) and GHB (a drug used by body builders to enhance muscles) do not appear to be in high demand in Maryland.

Not only is marijuana the most frequently abused drug in the United States, it is also the most commonly abused drug in Maryland according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Marijuana is available in every part of the state and is both locally grown on farmland along the eastern shore and imported from Canada and southwestern parts of the country. The DEA cites the following as commonly abused and/or diverted pharmaceuticals in Maryland: sedatives/tranquilizers such as OxyContin, Xanax, and hydrocodone products, and methadone and buprenorphine (used to treat heroin addiction). These drugs are accessed through medical personnel diverting medications; patients who obtain medications from multiple doctors; forged prescriptions; and theft by employees.

...