White House: Cocaine market in U.S. under 'stress'

The cocaine market in the United States is under "significant stress," reports the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Cocaine production has dropped in Colombia due to recent eradication efforts, putting stress on the U.S. market in 2009, the office announced this month. And although a direct connection between data is not sufficiently made clear, use of the drug also dropped last year in the United States, where most Colombian cocaine is destined after being moved by Mexican drug-trafficking organizations.

"Although a wide array of data now confirm the decline in use and availability of cocaine in the United States, there are still far too many Americans using drugs that drive violence and instability in other nations," said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House office. "That is why the Obama administration is working to restore balance to our drug control efforts by emphasizing demand reduction at the same time we are supporting our international allies in their efforts to curb the supply of these drugs."

Seizures are up globally and overall purity of the coca-based drug has declined sharply, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its 2010 World Drug Report. (Read the "Cocaine Market" chapter here.)

Coca-leaf production is on the rise in Colombia's neighboring countries. But most cocaine originating from Bolivia or Peru is destined for Europe, the U.S. said.

Yet, worldwide, the retail market remains robust in cold dollar amounts. According to the U.N. report, citing data from 2008, users in North America spent $38 billion on cocaine that year (at an average of $108 a gram) and Europe spent $34 billion on the drug (at $101 a gram, on average).

The third-biggest market in economic terms is Oceania, which includes Australia, due to the drug's high retail cost there. The relatively small population of users in the Pacific spent $291 on average for a gram of cocaine in 2008.

The drug is contributing to a spate of cocaine-related heart attacks in Sydney, where "South American and Mexican drug barons battle for supremacy," the Herald Sun reported Saturday.

-- Daniel Hernandez in Mexico City

Photo: A suspected dealer is arrested after selling a kilo of the drug to an undercover police officer in Sydney, Australia. Credit: The Herald Sun

Comments

[Pedro Gambino-Gotti]

Pure poppycock. The WH should fire the spin master who dreamed this up.
There's no shortage of supply and of course discounts for larger purchases.
Si Se Puede!!!

[woof-woof]

Are the prices quoted in the article for uncut cocaine?

[phillegitimate]

Seriously Australia? The only thing dumber than supporting the 'battle' through your drug habit is supporting the battle while overpaying for your drug habit. For a bunch of ex-convicts, you'd think we'd be more savvy about this kind of thing...

[thatswhatyouthink]

What is the point of reporting lies. A gram of coke is 35 dls at the most if YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYONE... and there is coke everywhere... what a farce

[K.E.]

H'm... a user friend of mine had absolutely no problem scoring crack for his most recent binge a few weeks ago.

Funny how users are so blinded by the intense pleasure of the high, that they are completely blind to its many (and considerable downsides...)

Did you know that crack actually makes you an increasingly selfish person, since it messes with your long term serotonin and dopamine levels? Check out the crack-related links on the site called "Better Living Through Chemistry."

Another fun fact: your brain produces specific proteins that make you more addicted to any addictive substance - but only users' brains make this addiction protein, regardless of genetics. An interesting twist on nature vs. nurture: once addicted, those who are addicted, tend to stay addicted.

[Ben Wallace]

How do you emphasize "demand reduction" of drugs? That's like declaring wind reduction, or rain reduction. The only way to curb demand is to take money out of consumers' pockets. The war on drugs makes about as much sense as a war on inclement weather. Vote for the Pauls, Ron and Rand.

[EAGD]

No wonder banks in the U.S. are having such a tough time!

[Major Variola (ret)]

The decrease is use is obvious ---its called financial collapse.

[Fiamma]

You have to laugh. Saturday a bystander in Cicero Illinois reported a large carton that had broken and spilled white powder while some men were loading up a van. They found 130 kilos of Cocaine in what was left after they loaded up.

Supply diminishing? Really?