Emerging Drug Threats Within the Context of Violent Crime and Firearms Violence

It is critical to identify emerging drug threats, not only within the drug market, but also as it relates to increased firearms-related and violent crime incidents. Often, there is a strong correlation between drug trends, weapons, and violence. To address these needs, the Vermont Emerging Threat Initiative, built on the model of the HIDTA National Emerging Threats Initiative, has continued to build and expand its work on a state-specific Emerging Threats project for Vermont.

This session will highlight diverse data sets across supply and demand as well as explore the relationships between emerging drug threats, violent crime, and use of firearms. Presenters will provide insight into the value of distilled data at the state and regional levels and enable other jurisdictions to assess similar data sets for their threat awareness. Various datasets will be utilized across supply and demand, including data on drug and weapons seizures; National Incident-Based Reporting System crime data; and National Forensic Laboratory Information System.