ILLEGAL DRUGS COME AT A HIGHER PRICE IN WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia's cost of living is high in at least one area - the
price of illegal drugs. Statistics compiled by the National Drug
Intelligence Center and released by U.S. Attorney Kasey Warner
indicate West Virginia drug users pay more for powder cocaine than any
other area of the country, except for parts of Vermont, Virginia,
South Carolina, North Dakota and Montana.

Once again, we find a rating for the Mountain State disturbing. It's
certainly not good news for West Virginia to rank high in sales of
high-cost drugs, especially when the poverty level is just as high, or
higher.

Warner said while prices vary based on purity, potency and
buyer-seller relationships, the study reported West Virginia drug
dealers pay about $24,000 wholesale for a kilogram of powder cocaine.

He said the dealers, in turn, usually sell the drug back for $100 a
gram - about a $75,000 profit.

Crack cocaine goes for $80 to $200 a gram and generates from 100 to
200 percent profit.

The report says the state's drug users pay $300 a gram for heroin, $2
for a marijuana joint and $150 a gram for methamphetamine - all above
average prices, according to the study.

Illegal drug sales obviously has become a lucrative business for the
pushers.

But, why do West Virginia drug users pay more?

Locally, the drug task force and law enforcement agencies have been
working hard to control drug use and sales locally. Numerous arrests
have been made and convictions won in courts. Yet, we know there is
much more drug traffic in our area.

The study credits the state's remoteness and low population compared
to other eastern states.

Warner also thinks drug dealers are trying to dupe the state's
residents. "Maybe people have the ideas that us poor hillbillies in
the backwoods will pay more for our drugs," Warner said.

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