Due to the elevated addiction and violence rate associated with crack cocaine, in Louisiana it is the primary drug threat. In Louisiana, cocaine is commonly available and distributed often; its abuse can be seen in the metropolitan cities and rural areas of Louisiana.

Besides the greater New Orleans area, heroin abuse and distribution are not considered great threats in Louisiana. However, marijuana remains the most widely abused drug in Louisiana. Reports reflect it as being the gateway drug for teens and young adults, leading to experimentation with other illegal drugs. High-grade marijuana is available in Louisiana due to modern indoor cultivation techniques.

The 2004-2005 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reflects that 299,000 of Louisiana citizens ages 12 or older cited prior month use of an illegal drug. Moreover, the 2004-2005 NSDUH statistics reveal that 36,000 Louisiana 12-17 year olds admitted to prior month use of an illegal substance.

In Louisiana, there were 18,969 full-time law enforcement personnel, as of October 31, 2006; 14,779 were officers; and 4,190 were civilians. Drug trafficking organizations continue to use the highways of Louisiana to transport drugs and drug money into the state, despite rising pressure from law enforcement.

Mexican drug trafficking organizations and African American criminal groups are responsible for the transportation of most of the powdered cocaine into Louisiana. The majority of this powdered cocaine that is transported into Louisiana is converted into crack cocaine. Independent dealers and African American street gangs are the primary distributors of crack on a retail level.

The production and distribution of methamphetamine causes violent crimes and dangerous conditions. In Louisiana, the primary local producers and retail distributors of methamphetamine are independent Caucasian groups; however, more African Americans are becoming involved in the distribution of methamphetamine.

In Louisiana in 2006, Federal agencies seized almost 80,000 dosage units of MDMA. The adult population at state and local prisons in Louisiana was 36,786 as of June 30, 2007; 30 percent of these prisoners were incarcerated for drug violations. On June 30, 2007, 480 youthful violators were in Louisiana state prisons; 24 percent of them had committed drug violations.