All of the major types of illicit drugs can be found in Colorado. Methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy and cocaine is pretty prevalent in Denver and also in Colorado Springs. These drugs and others can also be purchased in many of the smaller cities throughout the state.

Though many of the drugs brought into Colorado are for the purpose of being sold there, others make their way to the state, only to be shipped to other parts of the country, particularly Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming and Montana.  States in central United States are often the recipient of drugs from Colorado as well. Drugs may be transported via private and commercial vehicles, truck, railway, plane and even by bus.

The drug use rate is fairly high in Colorado, higher then in many other states. A  NHSDA (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse), study, performed less then a decade ago, found that nearly 9% of persons, 12 and older,  had abused some sort of drugs within 30 days of taking the survey.  The national average rate at this time was only 6.3%, a pretty significant difference.

Marijuana is the most abused drug in Colorado, followed by cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin.  Other types of drugs, such as club drugs, stimulants, tranquilizers, sedatives, hallucinogens, barbiturates and opiates, are used as well, though not as much as the aforementioned.