
The transition of illicit drugs into and through Mississippi has been a substantial issue for law enforcement for several years. Mississippi is perfectly suited with its interstate system, deepwater and river ports, and air and rail designs as the “Crossroads of the South” to allow drug transiting from the South Texas/Mexico region and Gulf ports to all of the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard of America. Mississippi has 82 counties, situated within 47,233 square miles, with most offering rural agricultural areas. Mississippi includes 362 miles of coastline, which extends from Louisiana to Alabama.
The state of Mississippi has an enhanced design of interstate highways and major thoroughfares that make visiting these metropolitan areas speedy and simple. Because of their large amount, several of these highways are hardly patrolled.
Cocaine, particularly crack, is the main drug threat in the state of Mississippi. This is because of the accessibility of the substance, its high addiction rate, and its tendency for violence. Cocaine is easily accessible and regularly distributed across Mississippi. Cocaine abuse is cited in the metropolitan cities and rural and urban regions. Cocaine abuse and distribution is related to more incidents of violent crime than any other chemical substance.
Colombian and Mexican drug smuggling organizations and African American criminal groups are responsible for the majority of the powdered cocaine in Mississippi, which they ship through private and commercial automobiles on Interstates 10 and 20. African American street gangs and local independent dealers transform the majority of the powdered cocaine into crack to sell on a retail level.

Heroin is viewed as a small drug threat in Mississippi because of its low demand and high price.
However, there have been some heroin apprehensions on the Coast. These apprehensions were mainly due to the coast’s geographical closeness to New Orleans. The majority of heroin apprehensions were the result of interdiction stops heading for eastern states.
Herbert Loving, Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MDMH), Division of Alcohol, and Drugs, cited that there are about 166,000 Mississippians who require drug treatment. Mississippi has 774 beds for residential and secondary therapeutic care and 83 beds for inpatient care; 200 more beds are situated at Parchman penitentiary. Per the latest statistics, from January 2005 through December 2005 there were 20,938 admissions that required treatment for drug and alcohol. Of this amount, 12,652 were admitted for drug abuse treatment. For the year 2006, Mississippi allocated $20.8 million to facilitate drug and alcohol treatment.
In Mississippi, methamphetamine is the second most severe drug threat. This is because of meth’s rising accessibility, the speedy growth of abuse, the danger to human life, and its hazard to the environment. Meth is the fastest growing drug concern in Mississippi. Law enforcement reporting states that meth is replacing crack as the main drug threat due to the accessibility, low price, and extended effect. Meth causes violent crime and perilous conditions during production and distribution. In Mississippi, the majority of the meth available for resale is produced in and shipped from Mexico through the Southwest Border states. The majority of the meth produced in the state of Mississippi is for local use and local markets. Caucasian independent groups are the main producers of meth manufactured in the state of Mississippi.