minnesota gang, drug drug & violent crime task forces

methamphetamine. Fortunately, use by minors has decreased due to the success of antimethamphetamine
advertising campaigns.
The abuse and illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs, such as OxyContin, has also significantly
increased. Seizures and arrests involve both pills and fentanyl patches. This has been a particular
problem on Indian reservations in the northern part of the state. In fact, both the White Earth and
Red Lake nations declared public health emergencies related to prescription drug abuse. In 2005,
prescription drugs were involved in 4.5% of drug arrests and that number increased to 14.4% in
2011. Task forces have reported some significant sale cases where large quantities of OxyContin
have been sold. At an average cost of $1.00/milligram, there is a high profit margin on the sale of
the drug. Illicit sellers are getting their product from forged prescriptions, “doctor shopping”, paid
procurers of the drug and pharmacy burglaries. There have been an alarming number of minors
and young adults abusing prescription medications. Individuals often take it from household
medicine cabinets or receive it or buy it from friends.
Historically, increases in the abuse of prescription pain killers including OxyContin; morphine;
codeine; and fentanyl patches, reduced the demand for heroin. This is no longer true as
2012 TASK FORCE ANNUAL REPORT - 3 -