A “behind the headlines” look at local law enforcement challenges with DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain

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Meeting ID: 816 2837 8931
Password: 437002

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Introducing Stacey Zinn-Brittain

Stacey laughed recounting that when reassigned from South America to Montana she was not aware Montana had a drug problem. Now she laments dangerous drugs are in every community and on every reservation. While “high quality” meth from Mexican cartels contains pseudoephedrine (an ingredient banned in the United States) home brew meth can contain battery acid, brake fluid and Drano.

Stacey said a pound of cocaine sells in Peru for up to $1,500 and sells in Montana for $54,000. She said cocaine is making a comeback and “Molly” (slang for Ecstasy) is being smuggled out of the Netherlands, through Canada, to the U.S. market. Zinn-Brittain said most people think Afghanistan and China produce America’s heroin but the majority actually comes up from Peru and Mexico.

Agent Brittain said drug users “chase the dragon” meaning as the euphoria they first experienced diminishes they take larger doses or try new drugs. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid rated at 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is often smuggled from China then cut into heroin and meth to return the “highs” addicts are chasing. Heroin mixed with Fentanyl is sold as cheap Oxycontin.

Lastly Stacy warned marijuana is, despite declarations to the contrary, a gateway drug and baby boomers may confuse the three percent THC levels in the marijuana they knew in college with the 33 percent THC level in today’s pot. She warned these levels can cause permanent damage to brain receptors.