Nevada Drug-Related Crime Statistics

Nevada, like many states, faces a significant challenge from drug-related crimes. These crimes impact not just big cities like Las Vegas and Reno, but communities throughout the state. Here are key statistics that shed light on the state of drug-related crimes in Nevada.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• In the 2009-2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), Nevada ranked among the top ten states for illicit drug usage (excluding marijuana) among teenagers aged 12-17 in the past month.

• The 2015-2016 NSDUH survey revealed that about 3.57% of Nevada residents aged 12 and above had used illicit drugs in the previous month.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered that in 2007, approximately one out of every eight drivers on Nevada’s roads during weekend nights tested positive for illegal drug use.

• According to CDC’s WONDER data, in 2009, illicit drug use directly resulted in the deaths of 555 individuals in Nevada.

• In 2021, there were 949 fatalities caused by drug overdoses in Nevada, with a rate of 29.2 deaths per 100,000 individuals when adjusted for age.

• As reported by the United States Sentencing Commission in 2016, drug-related offenses comprised 26.2% of primary offenses in Nevada.

• According to the Governor’s Working Group report on Methamphetamine Use 2007, over a six-week span in 2007, 50% of the 368 individuals arrested through intake at the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility disclosed being under the influence of drugs at the time of their offense.

• According to Nevada State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System Data, among people who died from drug overdoses in Nevada in 2020, 50% had a mental health issue, 75% had an identified non-alcohol-related substance misuse problem, and 11% had received substance misuse treatment.

Illicit Drug Use Statistics in Nevada

We tend to overlook the fact that using illegal drugs is a drug-related crime. Here are some illicit drug use statistics for Nevada:

• In the 2009-2010 NSDUH, Nevada ranked among the top ten states for illicit drug usage (excluding marijuana) among teenagers aged 12-17 in the past month. 

• In 2009, around 9.7% of Nevada residents acknowledged using illicit drugs in the past month, compared to the national average of 8.82%, as stated in the Nevada Drug Control Update report released by the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

• The 2015-2016 NSDUH survey revealed that about 3.57% of Nevada residents aged 12 and above had used illicit drugs in the previous month. Additionally, a higher proportion of Nevada residents aged 12 to 17 years old reported illicit drug use (4.07%) compared to the national average (2.71%).

• The NHTSA discovered that in 2007, approximately one out of every eight drivers on Nevada’s roads during weekend nights tested positive for illegal drug use.

• According to CDC’s WONDER data, in 2009, illicit drug use directly resulted in the deaths of 555 individuals in Nevada. In contrast, the number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents was 254 and firearms was 406 within the state during the same year. 

• Nevada’s drug-related fatalities in 2009, at a rate of 21 per 100,000 population, exceeded the national average of 12.8 per 100,000.

• As per the Nevada Crime and Corrections Fact Sheet produced by the Legislative Counsel Bureau, federal seizures of methamphetamine in 2008 totaled 4,154.5 kilograms nationwide. Nevada accounted for 44.1 kilograms and was ranked ninth highest nationally in terms of methamphetamine seizures.

• The Legislative Counsel Bureau also reported that in 2008, federal marijuana seizures amounted to 428,848.7 kilograms nationwide, with Nevada contributing 167.8 kilograms. Nevada held the 39th ranking among all states for marijuana seizures. 

Drug-Related Deaths in Nevada

Here are some numbers related to drug deaths in Nevada:

• According to Nevada State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System Data, people who died from drug overdoses in Nevada in 2020 had the following simultaneous issues: 

• In 2021, there were 949 fatalities caused by drug overdoses in Nevada, with a rate of 29.2 deaths per 100,000 individuals when adjusted for age, as documented by the National Center for Health Statistics and reported by the CDC. 

• As per the CDC, 842 individuals lost their lives in accidents involving a driver impaired by alcohol in Nevada between 2009 and 2018.

• The CDC reports that in 2018, the death rate in Nevada due to alcohol-impaired driving per thousand population was 4.3 for males and 1.5 for females. These figures describe deaths resulting from crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 0.08, as documented by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

• Research from the UNLV Center for Democratic Culture reports that from 1999 to 2016, Nevada saw a rise in the drug overdose death rate from 11.5 to 21.7 per 100,000 individuals. 

• In 2016, Nevada’s opioid death rate stood at 13.8 deaths per 100,000 individuals, while the national average was at 10.4 deaths per 100,000 individuals.

Drug-Related Arrests in Nevada

Statistics about drug-related arrests in Nevada include:

• As reported by the United States Sentencing Commission in 2016, drug-related offenses (including trafficking, use of communication facilities, and simple possession) comprised 31.6% of primary offenses nationwide. Nevada showed a similar pattern in 2016, with drug-related offenses accounting for 26.2% of primary offenses. 

• Among the drug-related offenses reported by the United States Sentencing Commission in 2016, methamphetamine constituted 51.4% of primary offenses, marijuana accounted for 11.4%, heroin for 8.6%, powder cocaine for 6.7%, and crack cocaine for 1.9%.

• According to the Governor’s Working Group report on Methamphetamine Use 2007, over a six-week span in 2007, 50% of the 368 individuals arrested through intake at the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility disclosed being under the influence of drugs at the time of their offense. 

• Among the 368 Nevada arrestees reported by Governer’s Working Group on Methamphetamine Use in 2007:

• 258 individuals (70%) disclosed starting methamphetamine use at age 14 or younger
• 184 individuals (50%) admitted to committing all their crimes while under the influence of methamphetamine
• 94 individuals (80%) reported habitual methamphetamine use
• 31 individuals (12%) reported regular intravenous methamphetamine use
• 100% of new intakes who were HIV positive reported regular methamphetamine use

• According to the Nevada Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice, in 2017, Category B-level drug trafficking ranked as the fourth most frequent offense upon admission. Furthermore, the duration of time served for trafficking admissions increased by 32% from 2012 to 2017.

• The Nevada Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice reports that in 2016, Nevada had a female imprisonment rate that was 43% higher than the national average. 70% of all female admissions were due to property or drug offenses.

Nevada Drug-Related Crime Statistics by City/County

Here are some Nevada drug-related crime statistics by city/county:

• From September 25 to September 27, 2022, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) recorded six suspected drug-related overdoses in Clark County. Among these, preliminary findings from LVMPD indicate that four cases were linked to fentanyl overdoses. 

• South Nevada Health District reported that between January and July 2022, there were 110 fatalities from fentanyl overdoses among residents of Clark County. In 2021, the total number of fentanyl-related deaths was 225, with 191 deaths reported in 2020. 

• South Nevada Health District states that between January 2018 and July 2022, Clark County witnessed a provisional estimate of 1412 deaths attributed to opioid overdoses. Among these fatalities, 653 individuals, or 46%, succumbed to fentanyl-related overdoses. 

• According to the Governor’s Working Group report on Methamphetamine Use 2007, between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, Washoe County saw 67 arrests and 34 asset seizures, with the total value of these seizures amounting to $934,825. 

• In Las Vegas, interdiction efforts in 2006 led to 94 arrests, the execution of 14 search warrants, and the seizure of two firearms and 12 vehicles as per the Governor’s Working Group report on Methamphetamine use. Additionally, law enforcement seized $2,787,243 in U.S. currency, along with 25 kilograms of ice and 14 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.

• Nevada Department of Public Safety reports that in Clark County, there were 14 drug-related homicides in 2004, 17 in 2005, and five in 2006. Conversely, in Washoe County, there were no drug-related homicides in 2004 and 2005, but there were five in 2006.

• According to the Clark County Coroner’s Office, the number of drug-related deaths by drug type in Clark County from 2004 to 2006 are as follows:

Drug Type	Deaths in 2004	Deaths in 2005	Deaths 2006
Diverted pharmaceuticals	115	147	165
Cocaine	93	109	105
Methamphetamine	78	65	80
Heroin	24	40	35

Source: justice.gov

FAQs

Is Nevada a No-Tolerance State for Drugs?

According to Section 484.379 of the Nevada law, there is strict adherence to zero tolerance regarding specified quantities of banned substances in the state.  

What Is Considered a Drug Crime in Nevada?

As per Nevada’s state laws, several activities are considered drug crimes, including: 

• Possessing any controlled substance without a prescription

• Having drugs with the intent to sell them

• Creating, selling, or trafficking controlled substances, such as growing large amounts of marijuana or transporting drugs across state lines

• Obtaining prescription drugs illegally, such as through forgery or impersonating a doctor

There are exceptions for recreational marijuana use for adults over 21 and medical marijuana use with a valid card, but possession limits apply in both cases. 

What Is the Most Common Criminal Drug Charge in Nevada?

The most common criminal illegal drug charge in Nevada is possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription. The offense involves knowingly and intentionally possessing drugs without the legal authorization to do so. It’s usually due to drug addiction.

Get help to fight your Addiction Problem

Struggling with addiction is a significant challenge, but it is not one you have to face alone. We offer a wide range of resources and support systems to help individuals combat substance abuse we offer a wide variety of addiction rehabs, such as alcohol rehab in Las Vegas that will help you reclaim your life.

Data Sources

1. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/state_profile-nevada.pdf

2. https://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd10.html

3. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/budget/policystatesnapshots/Nevada.html

4. https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/news-release/health-district-issues-an-advisory-to-the-public-as-fentanyl-deaths-increase-in-clark-county/

5. https://www.nvopioidresponse.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sudors_report_01.20_06.20.pdf

6. https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/pdf/impaired-driving-new/CDC-impaired-driving-fact-sheet-Nevada.pdf

7. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/Factsheets/CrimeRankings.pdf

8. https://cdclv.unlv.edu/healthnv_2017/addiction_17.pdf

9. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/76th2011/ExhibitDocument/OpenExhibitDocument?exhibitId=19946&fileDownloadName=h0221E_kanb.pdf

10. https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs23/23909/23909p.pdf

11. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/ExhibitDocument/OpenExhibitDocument?exhibitId=37625&fileDownloadName=0308AB236_yeas_ACAJ%20JRI%20Final%20Recommendations%20Report.pdf