Posing significant threats to the safety of the Massachusetts public is the distribution and abuse of illicit drugs and the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. This 2002 report from the National Drug Intelligence Center under the U.S. Department of Justice provides an update to the Massachusetts drug threat assessment. An analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transportation, and distribution and the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society. The assessment included the drugs heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, as well as other illicit drugs, such as MDMA, GHB, LSD, ketamine, and diverted pharmaceuticals. Heroin has emerged as the greatest drug threat to the State, especially in urban areas. Cocaine remains a serious drug threat in primarily the rural areas of the State. Marijuana is readily available and commonly abused but poses a lower threat than heroin or cocaine due to its less debilitating effects. Popular among adolescents and young adults are the drugs MDMA, GHB, LSD, ketamine, and diverted pharmaceuticals. Methamphetamine has limited availability in the State and is not considered a significant threat. As for the future, heroin will remain the greatest threat to Massachusetts due to its availability and high rate of abuse. Cocaine will remain an equally serious drug threat because it is readily available, frequently abused, and commonly associated with violent crime. Marijuana will remain the most widely available and commonly abused drug. Methamphetamine will not present a serious threat due to it rarely being produced, distributed, or abused in Massachusetts. Lastly, illicit drugs, such as MDMA, GHB, LSD, and ketamine, will continue to gain popularity among teenagers and young adults.