Controlled substance law enforcement efforts have been a law enforcement priority for years. Police officers often look for those involved in the drug trade, and they also arrest anyone that they catch in possession of prohibited or controlled substances.
Social attitudes about drug use have certainly changed in recent years, and many states have implemented more lenient drug laws. However, North Carolina does not necessarily have a lenient approach to drug crimes. Residents and visitors can expect that law enforcement professionals are typically on the lookout for signs of illicit drug use or trafficking.
What do the most recent drug arrest statistics from around the state indicate about law enforcement priorities?
Drug enforcement remains a top concern
Number of arrests reported actually decreased substantially between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, there were 38,291 adult arrests for drug crimes across North Carolina. The number of arrests dropped to 34,025 in 2022, which was an 11% decrease. However, that trend is not necessarily an indicator of increased leniency in the penal system.
Instead, it may reflect a focus on more serious drugs, including heroin, fentanyl and other opioids. The sad fact is that addiction is not necessarily less common just because the drug crime arrest rate declined. In fact, data from 2022 shows that roughly 11 people in North Carolina died every day that year due to some kind of drug overdose. A large percentage of those tragic cases involved fentanyl, heroin and opioids.
A desire to protect people from substances that could cause a fatal overdose or leave them struggling with addiction might lead to police officers prioritizing more complex cases instead of quick arrests. At the end of the day, anyone arrested for a drug offense in North Carolina can expect that prosecutors may ask the courts to impose the harshest penalties possible.
Particularly in cases involving allegations of trafficking, a desire to set an example might lead to defendants facing a very serious sentence. Yet, there are certain options potentially available to those accused of a drug offense in North Carolina, including requesting adjudication in the drug courts. Understanding trends in law enforcement activity could help some people avoid arrest and others better respond to pending charges.