Community Life
Drug-Related Arrests


Drug-Related Arrests

What does this measure?

The number of felony and misdemeanor drug arrests per 1,000 residents.

Why is this important?

Drug use, sale and other illegal drug-related activity can have immediate as well as long-term negative health, social and economic consequences, both for individuals and for neighborhoods and communities.

How is our county doing?

In Essex County, almost 900 people were arrested for drug-related crimes in 2021 - a rate of about 1.1 arrests per 1,000 residents. This is slightly higher than the statewide figure of 0.8. Lawrence (3.8), Haverhill (2.4), Salem (1.6) and West Newbury (1.5) had the highest rates in Essex County in 2021. In general, the rate of arrests for drug-related crimes has declined since a peak of 2.0 in 2007.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had a higher rate compared to Middlesex, MA at 0.4 and Westchester, NY at 0.9.

Notes about the data

Comparable national data was not available. The City of Lawrence did not report data prior to 2020. Comparable data for Lake, IL was not available for 2021. Differences in rates may reflect a variety of factors, including differences in laws and law enforcement priorities, in addition the severity of drug activity in an area.

Drug-Related Arrests
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA1.01.11.00.80.91.21.22.01.91.11.01.01.31.71.71.61.41.31.30.81.01.1
Amesbury3.84.92.72.13.33.53.84.22.50.80.90.91.51.60.81.81.71.10.60.20.50.4
Beverly0.92.13.22.42.82.82.02.92.61.73.41.21.51.21.11.30.70.70.30.30.20.3
Gloucester1.42.22.01.00.71.51.30.71.31.71.61.41.81.41.61.20.81.41.00.51.4
Haverhill0.72.83.13.32.92.01.32.02.52.73.53.22.82.63.72.02.02.4
Lawrence5.03.8
Lynn4.83.41.71.62.02.43.62.62.62.51.91.41.31.00.7
Methuen0.50.30.10.30.71.54.13.11.12.52.44.75.14.94.14.35.11.80.60.5
Newburyport1.21.20.71.41.72.41.94.70.31.00.31.73.71.21.10.80.30.70.20.20.1
Peabody2.42.72.71.91.62.01.61.41.80.60.71.31.20.71.31.01.00.91.10.60.20.1
Salem1.73.83.32.61.82.52.22.31.11.6
Andover4.73.01.90.51.22.01.43.64.13.42.41.31.31.23.14.02.42.11.30.70.20.3
Boxford0.10.30.70.60.20.1
Danvers0.82.22.01.72.44.04.53.13.11.30.80.60.80.80.50.40.90.90.60.60.60.6
Essex0.30.5
Georgetown0.10.10.90.10.20.50.20.60.60.50.70.2
Groveland3.83.53.41.61.62.12.25.01.50.11.90.30.20.31.20.60.30.20.2
Hamilton1.10.51.63.02.81.80.21.20.60.30.60.10.50.1
Ipswich0.50.70.40.10.20.10.40.70.10.80.30.20.50.20.50.10.20.10.30.2
Lynnfield0.40.90.10.20.20.20.20.70.70.70.50.20.30.50.40.40.20.10.20.1
Manchester0.40.40.20.40.21.00.60.21.31.30.40.20.90.4
Marblehead1.71.71.20.81.41.01.11.01.10.30.10.20.50.40.10.10.10.10.10.1
Merrimac1.31.10.80.91.10.90.50.20.30.20.60.30.40.60.10.60.1
Middleton0.10.10.20.10.20.10.20.10.10.1
Nahant0.61.91.40.60.60.30.80.80.81.10.90.60.60.3
Newbury2.21.82.60.52.71.62.33.00.80.30.70.31.91.71.00.40.40.30.1
North Andover0.91.40.80.50.30.50.71.11.20.10.20.10.30.10.40.21.02.01.30.70.20.2
Rockport0.11.70.30.50.30.40.10.10.40.30.1
Rowley0.92.22.30.92.51.60.70.90.91.70.30.90.31.31.01.00.30.30.20.20.3
Salisbury17.69.74.03.12.51.83.43.43.71.23.41.13.74.34.13.64.54.43.02.31.01.3
Saugus2.12.21.01.31.10.91.31.31.50.71.00.91.40.70.60.20.30.40.40.20.40.2
Swampscott0.80.20.50.10.41.20.60.70.80.40.30.90.30.60.40.40.40.10.10.10.1
Topsfield1.15.64.60.71.50.80.30.30.20.30.90.50.90.60.3
Wenham0.21.52.01.62.71.11.10.21.20.20.81.00.2
West Newbury2.23.32.12.32.83.32.62.61.80.50.51.20.50.70.50.90.20.40.21.5
Middlesex County, MA0.60.60.60.70.80.80.91.01.20.70.80.90.90.80.70.70.70.60.60.60.40.4
Lake County, IL5.65.25.04.85.35.45.55.74.74.85.05.35.96.36.36.25.33.62.71.91.1
Westchester County, NY2.22.42.42.93.33.63.83.83.53.33.43.64.04.23.32.62.52.42.92.31.30.9
Massachusetts1.21.31.21.21.61.81.92.02.11.21.21.21.31.31.21.11.21.11.00.90.80.8

Source: Massachusetts State Police, Illinois State Police and New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services




Number of Drug-Related Arrests
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA7228077265506398649071,4501,4318197557319741,3031,2831,2531,0791,0421,031645814896
Amesbury62814534545862694113151424271432292010497
Beverly3584127941101117911510368136466150465329271313713
Gloucester436660312246392241484640524247362441301442
Haverhill4117018719917712280120156170215199175162239126130155
Lawrence397302
Lynn4182971521461802203262372412281751281279864
Methuen2413515326518113950119116226251244206218260922823
Newburyport202012253041328261753065221914612431
Peabody1161321339181998070903034656037675251495833127
Salem701621411127610996984770
Andover1499861173865481181371168144434011014084744626712
Boxford126521
Danvers1956514363104121848534201722231410242616171715
Essex12
Georgetown117124255462
Groveland23212110101415351111221284211
Hamilton9413252315210525141
Ipswich695121591114273723243
Lynnfield410122228886236553121
Manchester22121531772152
Marblehead343524172919222022613108222111
Merrimac87567631214234141
Middleton1121212111
Nahant27522133343221
Newbury1512183181116215252131273321
North Andover24372214913183132363921263163422256
Rockport113242311321
Rowley5121351494551025286622112
Salisbury13877322520152829321028931373633424229221012
Saugus5457263329233436421926233919175711106125
Swampscott12371617910116412496662212
Topsfield73528495221263642
Wenham17971255161451
West Newbury91491012141111822523241217
Middlesex County, MA8298558779531,1701,1291,2731,4421,7841,0951,2631,3071,3931,2451,1601,1681,040957967903652643
Lake County, IL3,6323,3703,2773,2413,6243,7183,8484,0763,3163,4533,5443,7434,1394,4454,4474,3993,7892,5721,8841,367769
Westchester County, NY2,0612,1942,2912,6853,1143,3273,5313,5523,2683,1553,2013,4723,8004,0283,1802,5352,3862,3072,8172,2671,325933
Massachusetts7,3868,1277,7267,65810,35211,57512,26013,09413,8057,8128,1178,0878,6878,6488,2507,6457,8207,2896,6086,3015,2275,469

Source: Massachusetts State Police, Illinois State Police and New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable