The Clackamas County government issued the following news release:

Chris Gibson, Director of the Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, today released the Program's annual Drug Threat Assessment and Counter-Drug Strategy during a press conference at the Portland Police Bureau's North East Precinct.

The report indicates that illicit use of Marijuana, Methamphetamine and prescription pain relievers and stimulants in Oregon exceeds the national per capita average.

"The abuse and trafficking of Methamphetamine and Marijuana remains epidemic in Oregon today. Marijuana production is also widespread and increasing in scale," said Director Gibson. "Fortunately, Methamphetamine production is down substantially. From 2004 to 2007, the number of local Methamphetamine labs reported by law enforcement declined by 96 percent due, in large part, to increased enforcement efforts by state, local and federal law enforcement agencies, strict pseudoephedrine control legislation enacted by the Oregon legislature and the enactment of the Federal Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005."

Despite the declines in in-state production, the availability of crystal Methamphetamine has not diminished as Mexican drug traffickers are importing the finished product from labs in Mexico and other locations outside Oregon, according to the report. While there is some evidence of a downward trend in amphetamine treatment admissions, serious methamphetamine-related crime continues to be a daily problem and is regarded by Oregon law enforcement agencies as the area's greatest drug threat. The sustained high-levels of drug abuse are reflected in the significant level of identity theft, abused and neglected children, and other serious person and property crimes.

Heroin, Cocaine, and prescription drug abuse constitute the next tier of major drug threats to Oregon communities. "While Heroin and Cocaine indicators of abuse have fluctuated, the threat posed by pharmaceutical abuse has risen in recent years. According to a report published by Oregon Department of Human Services, treatment admissions in the state have increased 332 percent in the last 10 years - surpassing admissions for Cocaine in 2005," said Director Gibson.

Marijuana abuse, production and trafficking are also widespread and increasing in scale in Oregon, today's report noted. Large indoor and outdoor Marijuana growing operations have been discovered on both public and private forest lands and Bureau of Land Management areas.