Who would doubt that New York is worth visiting? With an estimated 60 international cuisines that are served in 23,000 restaurants, this is a food Mecca. An ultimate skyscraper city is a place to see for those who love architecture. Art lovers will indulge themselves by some of the world's best museums and art galleries. The metropolis boasts its theatres, streets that are famous around the globe, big business, and fashion.

But under all these attractions on the surface, there lies a different picture with a problem common for many other U.S. cities - drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Why is New York a Goal for Drug Traffickers?

A market of about 20 million people cannot but attract the attention of drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). Their illegal business is thriving as overdoses in New York City are escalating, with each year setting a new record of drug-related deaths. Every seven hours, someone dies from an overdose. And though there're a lot of drug rehab centers in nyc, many addicts don't even try to seek help.             

NYC is an ethnically diverse metropolis. It's home to immigrants from every corner of the globe, including Columbia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Italy, Nigeria, Russia, Vietnam, and China. It's estimated that about 800 languages are spoken in this metropolis. This ethnic diversity, coupled with high population density, helps drug traffickers from any country blend in easily, complicating detection.

Who Supplies Drugs in New York?

Colombian DTOs lead in drug trafficking in the NY region. They regularly deliver hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Mexican and Dominican DTOs often work for Colombian DTOs and carry these drugs across Southwest Border.  

Jamaican DTOs gained a foothold in NY metropolitan area where they sell marijuana. Chinese DTOs transport heroin from Asia through airports and seaports.

Retail traffic is carried out by street gangs, such as the Bloods, Crips, Dominicans Don't Play, Latin Kings, Ñetas, and MS 13. 

Transport Infrastructure Supports Trafficking

Regions with various modes of transportation are appealing to drug traffickers. The port of New York/New Jersey is used for drug smuggling in containerized cargo. In February 2019, whopping 3,200 pounds of cocaine was found at this port. It's worth $77 million and it's the largest seizure in 25 years.

Couriers go above and beyond to hide drugs from airport security. Police found drugs hidden inside wigs, fake buttocks and breasts, toys, and hollowed-out beads. In 2018, JFK International Airport seized over $1.3 million in cocaine on the eve of Thanksgiving. The suspicious suitcase was packed with 38 brick-like packages with this drug. 

Drugs traffickers take advantage of the large volume of traffic - trucks, trains, and buses - moving into and through the state every day. The largest subway system in the world also provides numerous opportunities for drug dealers.

NY State has almost the toughest drug laws in America, with imprisonment ranging from 1-2.5 years for minor first-time offenders to a maximum term of life imprisonment for major drug traffickers. However, that doesn't stop a lot of people from what they believe is an easy and fast way to earn cash.   

Where to Seek Help in New York?

It won't be a problem to find a rehabilitation center (https://addictionresource.com/drug-rehab/ source suggests details). In this city, 626 treatment centers are dedicated to substance abuse. 185 rehabs offer a combination of substance abuse and mental health treatment programs as some addicts also suffer from some mental condition, like anxiety and depression.

So, what are the treatment options?

Drug treatment centers offer residential (inpatient) and outpatient rehabilitation programs. The residential care is recommended for people with severe cases of addiction, those who need to be watched constantly through their long recovery process.

Some centers offer the programs designed specifically to treat particular drug addiction, such as cocaine, heroin, opioids, marijuana, or crack.

What is the length of treatment?

The duration of addiction treatment programs is the same in every state. A traditional short-term program is 30 days. Long-term options may reach 120 days and even more. 

What are the cost and payment options?

The cost of rehabilitation in new york depends on different factors which include:

• length of treatment

• type of program

• insurance policy.

In NY State, 75% of treatment facilities accept private insurance. So, if you have insurance, call the provider to discuss your individual plan. 

If you don't have insurance, don't let this stop you from seeking treatment. The government understands the financial difficulties addicted people face. That's why 47% of rehabs in ny are state-funded and thus free of charge for clients who cannot pay. 

79% of treatment centers offer payment plans and sliding-scale fees. That means that centers offer options to either reduce the burden of paying or reduce the total cost according to a client's income level and what they can realistically afford.

What are the Results of High Drug Availability for New Yorkers?

According to County Opioid Quarterly Report For New York State Counties, published in July 2019, overdose deaths in NYC remain at epidemic levels. 331 overdose deaths were confirmed during the first quarter of 2019. However, after 7 years in a row, the increase in the rate of overdose deaths in NYC has finally decreased in 2018. 

Fentanyl is the reason for 44% of overdose deaths. This is a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Before 2015, fentanyl was responsible only for less than 3% of overdose deaths in the city annually. But since it has been increasingly added into heroin and is being sold by itself (often without the consumer's knowledge), the rates have risen incredibly.

According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU Meyers College of Nursing and NYU College of Global Public Health, people who abuse drugs in NYC have adjusted their behaviors to avoid an overdose.

The dangers of drug addiction can have a destructive impact on your life. If you or your loved one is suffering from substance abuse, now it's the right time to get help.