Annual Drug Report Released by Troopers

Alcohol primary substance abused in Alaska

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By Kate McPherson
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Story Created: Mar 6, 2012 at 10:15 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 6, 2012 at 10:33 AM AKDT

ALASKA - State Troopers have released their Annual Drug Report which contains statistics on arrests and seizures of drugs throughout Alaska during 2011.

The report says alcohol is the primary substance of abuse in Alaska and contributes to many suicides and accidental deaths in rural areas.

The amount of cocaine seized by all task forces last year increased by 15 pounds from 2010.

The report also says heroin is not isolated to the metropolitan areas of the state. Troopers found the use of heroin in several smaller communities.

And the number of marijuana plants seized more than doubled. Troopers say their investigations aren't concentrating more on marijuana but last year they were successful in stopping some very large producers.

“Because of our size, one significant seizure can skew the numbers,” said Lieutenant Chris Thompson of the Western Alaska Alcohol and Narcotics team. “Last year we had several commercial marijuana growers that were quite large, and that affects the numbers, but I wouldn't say there's been any sort of significant push or emphasis on marijuana versus any other drug.”

Troopers say the amount of marijuana being imported versus being grown in the state hasn't changed significantly. Investigators say the most prolific area of growing in the state is the Mat-Su Valley.
 

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EA, Kenai said on Friday, Mar 9 at 7:01 PM

Not only is it legal, look how avidly it is advertised. Magazines, newspapers, radio, tv---we PUSH the stuff!

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Ronald Brower said on Wednesday, Mar 7 at 8:04 PM

Illegelize alcohol and legalize marijuana.. Alcohol and heavy drugs kill, marijuana helps cancer patients and give them the appetite to eat and is alot better than man made chemical drugs the hospitals prescribe....

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Mar 6 at 5:17 PM

well I would rather see a kid smoke too much weed, take a nap, wake up and eat eat eat...with booze or other drugs you get too much - you don't wake up!!! Weed is bad - it's like being drunk without the booze but the overdose implications are low risk...

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Mar 6 at 4:52 PM

FYI Anonymous, cannabis and other drugs DO lead to many deaths in the U.S., unfortunately, my neighbor being one. Suck that junk in if you want, but quit lying about it.

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Iqalahuuk said on Tuesday, Mar 6 at 2:34 PM

So true about alcohol! Make the entire USA dry like some Alaskan communities! Yep,there will still be home brew and smuggling like the marijuana situation.... any better ideas?

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Anonymous said on Tuesday, Mar 6 at 12:44 PM

imagine that, the number one killer is also legal in the US. When will people wake up and understand alchol kills half million people a year and cannabis has never killed anyone in the history of the world.

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