Illinois has always been a center for drug traffickers because of its location. The mere fact that Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is the busiest in the country has made Illinois popular with drug trafficking organizations.
The prevalence of gangs in Chicago has resulted in a rise in homicides, prostitution, money laundering and social ills for the community.
Most cocaine in Chicago comes into the city via trucks. Once in the city, the cocaine is quickly repackaged and moved throughout Illinois, New York City and Philadelphia. Heroin is widely available in Illinois. Colombian drug lords have become a presence in Chicago and play a large role in smuggling heroin into Illinois. The ample availability of heroin has meant a drop in prices. Consequently, a drop in cost has resulted in the lower quality and higher potency of the drug.
Methamphetamine has become a steadily increasing problem. It is produced in great quantities in clandestine laboratories. The drug is made in rural areas of the state from chemicals stolen from pharmacies, agriculture stores and the chemical industry.
Despite a ban on the sale of ephedrine, the main ingredient in cough medicine, the number of methamphetamine labs continues to increase. Chicago is a big city and crucial to international trade. As a result, the city has a problem with club drugs. Chicago is the biggest distributor of club drugs across the Midwest. MDMA (ecstasy, GHB, Ketamine and PCP).
For Immediate Help Call
(773) 345-5466
24 hours a day
For more information on state-funded treatment options in Illinois
www.dhs.state.il.us.
The Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Department of Human Services,
100 West Randolph, Suite 5-600, Chicago IL, 60601,
312-814-3840
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alton 800-307-6600
Joliet 815-741-6637
Bloomington 309-828-7092
Naperville 630-355-2622
Chicago 312-346-1475
Rockford 815-968-0333
Elk Grove 847-362-1811
Waukegan 847-623-9660
Narcotics Anonymous
Champaign 217-373-2063
Chicago 708-848-4884
Washington 800-539-0475
Rockford 815-964-5959
Edwardsville 618-398-9409
Call (773) 345-5466
