Drug issues in AZ? (Phoenix, Prescott: rent, house, school)

[Namasterising]

Hi, I am from WI and temporarily moved to CA for work and wow, the drugs here are insane. No matter where you live the meth, crack and pot (a lot of skunkweed which smells horrible) it's everywhere (people walk down the main streets and beaches past police smoking pot) and the police do nothing about it. I'm also leaving because rent is insane ;-)

I'm looking at moving back to AZ as I can for work and I lived there for school for several years - looking at either PHX - fountain hills or cave creek areas, Prescott, Cottonwood or Sedona. Open to other suggestions. My main concerns are:

- how bad is the drug situation and do the police take care of it if there is meth or pot issues with neighbors

- I can live anywhere as long as I'm within 30-45 min of one of the above areas for work. which is the least drug heavy and safe for a single female.

- which are the best areas to live in general above and why do you enjoy them.

I tend toward liking smaller towns (from a small town in the midwest) but in California that means more drugs so trying to figure out a happy medium

Thank you!!!

[madison999]

meth is crazy out here. AZ has MMJ so get used to that one...

[YAZ]

Unfortunately, it seems that meth is EVERYWHERE. Even more unfortunate, the weather is starting to break. Which means that the tweakers flock to nice climates.

Phoenix is the main staging point for meth coming out of Mexico. My lady friend police officer informs me that Phoenix meth is the cheapest in the country. And there's LOTS of it.

One learns quick about which gas stations & stores to stay away from.

[Charles22]

Stay at home.

[adventuregurl]

Yes it's here but you will not have problems in Cottonwood or Sedona if you mind your own business.

Personally I love living in the area.

[Bondurant]

The use of pot in Arizona is no worse than other places I've lived. Meth is here but it's everywhere. I am from a small town in Michigan where the use of meth and heroin was more obvious than here in Phoenix. You would definitely encounter drugged up people (most likely begging for change in various places) but I don't think your life would be otherwise affected by their presence.

[Namasterising]

Thank you all for your replies, I so appreciate it. I didn't realize meth was that prevalent in AZ - I don't recall it from when I lived there before but that was some time ago and my focus was on school. I'm not sure what MMJ means, is that a medical marijuana reference? Cottonwood and Sedona are top of my list so appreciate that reference too.

[dvxhd]

MMJ is medical marijuana. I don't know if it's the "morality" of drugs that bothers you or the legality of them, but do keep in mind that recreational marijuana looks like it will be on the 2016 ballot. If that's concerning to you, you might want to look into it further.

[chaparrito]

Check the court docket reports in the Verde Independent. Two thirds of the court cases in the Verde Valley are drug related and it's mostly meth.

[Namasterising]

Thanks again, I honestly don't have a personal belief system per what people are doing, I just don't want to smell it all the time and be afraid the neighbor's house is going to blow up and the police are going to do nothing. I'm hearing you all that AZ isn't much better.