Denver has become a principal U.S. distribution center for methamphetamine, a task force said in its first annual report Tuesday.
The report said that the city’s prominence in meth distribution is likely due to the intersection of major highways and the high levels of trafficking from Mexico.
Colorado’s Methamphetamine Task Force is headed by state Attorney General John Suthers and Lori Moriarity of the North Metro Drug Task Force.
The report also said that the meth-use problem is becoming particularly acute in rural areas of Colorado, where there has been a 7 percent to 22 percent increase in meth-treatment admissions.
“Colorado has a higher percentage of persons aged 12 or older reporting past-year methamphetamine use from 2002-2005, as compared to the national average,” the report added.
One bit of good news in the report is that the number of meth labs in Colorado has decreased in the past three years. It said the decrease is likely due to stricter laws and better communication among law enforcement officials and Colorado communities.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
