Alcohol and marijuana continue to be the overwhelming drugs of choice for substance-abusing Western Alaskans, according the Alaska State Trooper drug report for 2011.
That trend has a long history in the state, though the amount of alcohol actually seized by troopers has gone down since last year.
Alcohol related charges, however, have continued to rise.
There are a number of reasons pointing to lasting issues surrounding alcohol — its seriously addictive nature, its legal availability in Alaska's urban areas — but the trooper report also points out the sheer monetary value attached to it in Alaska's dry communities. The report cites that alcohol may fetch a price up to 15 times its actual value when sold in rural Alaska.
Cocaine remains a common seller in Alaska's drug market, as does methamphetamine. Troopers actually reported that Alaska has less meth labs than in previous years, which is contrary to evidence of meth availability remaining steady. It is believed this is due in part to a new and dangerous method of meth preparation called the "one pot" or "shake-and-bake" method.
Actual seizure of illegal drugs has fluctuated across the board. Statewide Drug Enforcement Units seized 37.12 pounds of cocaine, up from 22 in 2010; 6.41 pounds of heroin, up from 4.64 in 2010 and 260.95 pounds of marijuana, down from 316.07.
Prescription medication abuse and selling has continued to rise across the state, with seizure of hydrocodone doubling since the previous year.
According to the report: "The latest data provided by the National Drug Intelligence Center shows that overdose deaths associated with the use of prescription medications exceeds those associated with Page 19 of 21 the use of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined. This number includes both legal and illegal uses of prescription medications.