A study released in February 2026 by the University of Chicago’s Center for the Study of Drug Markets found that average street prices for cocaine and methamphetamine in the United States changed by less than one percent in the two years after the 2025 arrests of several high‑profile cartel leaders, a pattern that economists say runs counter to textbook supply‑and‑demand theory.
The report analyzed price data from law‑enforcement seizures, undercover purchases and consumer surveys across 15 major metropolitan areas, comparing the period before the arrests (2023‑2024) with the period after (2025‑2026).
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive lawmakers and public‑health advocates have pointed to the study as evidence that enforcement‑only strategies fail to disrupt drug markets, arguing for expanded treatment programs and economic alternatives for communities impacted by trafficking.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, in a statement released after the study’s publication, said the findings highlight the need for a “comprehensive public‑health approach that reduces demand rather than relying on arrests that have limited impact on price or availability.”
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative leaders have emphasized the study’s focus on price stability as a sign that cartel leadership is resilient, arguing that stronger border security and tougher sentencing are required to dismantle the organizations.
Senator Ted Cruz, commenting on the report, said the data show “cartels can adapt quickly, and merely removing a few kingpins does not cripple their operations; we must double down on law‑enforcement and secure our borders.”
What the Numbers Show
The University of Chicago analysis reported that the average price per gram of cocaine was $115 in 2024 and $114 in 2026, a 0.9 percent decline within the margin of error; methamphetamine averaged $85 per gram in both years, a 0.0 percent change.
Arrest data from the DEA’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment indicated that 12 senior cartel figures were captured or killed between March and November 2025, representing roughly 8 percent of the identified leadership hierarchy for the groups studied.
Despite the leadership losses, the study found that total street‑level shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine in the United States declined by only 3 percent and 2 percent respectively, suggesting that lower‑level networks compensated for the disruption.
The Bottom Line
The findings illustrate that drug‑market pricing can remain stable even after significant law‑enforcement actions, a reality that both progressive and conservative policymakers must consider when shaping future drug‑policy strategies. Upcoming congressional hearings on the report will likely focus on whether resources should shift toward demand‑reduction measures, stricter border enforcement, or a combination of both approaches.