COVID virus impacts drug prices, supply

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The influx and attainability of drugs in the country has changed quite a bit over the past two years because of the virus.

Tommy Loving, the director of the Warren County Drug Task Force, explained the cause and effect of border closures and drug availability in the area.

He said when the border closed because of the virus, production of methamphetamine out of Mexico continued, but did not make it’s way into the country.

So the prices rose nearly 50% as the supply declined and demand increased.

Now, after the border has reopened, the stockpiles have made their way into the country and have driven prices back down and supply has skyrocketed.

But still, Loving says the street price of some drugs are 25% higher now than before the pandemic began.

“The Covid pandemic was also hurting their profits for the Mexican cartels so basically they’re back in business as usual and the drugs are flowing pretty freely across the border because obviously border patrol and customs are just overwhelmed at this time,” he said.

Loving says the squeaky wheel in south central Kentucky is meth, advising anyone and everyone to avoid the drug.