The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says that the prices of cocaine and methamphetamine have risen four straight quarters in the U.S., possibly indicating a reduction in supply, USA Today reported Nov. 7.

Since last October, the DEA said, estimated cocaine prices have risen 47 percent, while methamphetamine prices have risen 84 percent. The estimates are based on DEA data on seized drugs. "I don't think anyone is prepared to declare victory, but this is certainly encouraging news," said Scott Burns of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

But Bill Piper of the Drug Policy Alliance noted that higher drug prices is not necessarily good news. "When gasoline prices go up, politicians instinctively know that oil companies are getting rich," Piper said. "When drug prices go up, drug cartels are making money ... More people are going to enter the market because its more profitable."

In related news, the Justice Department said that cocaine appears to be replacing methamphetamine as the biggest drug threat to the U.S., according to the annual National Drug Intelligence Estimate.