Extent of Use

Demand Statistics

The current economic downturn will no doubt have a significant effect on illicit drug use of all types. In fact the statistics cited below may be well behind the curve due to the precipitous decline in employment security and household income. Healthcare professional should anticipate an increase in illicit drug use during times of pandemic social stress and assess all patients for indications of drug abuse.

National Drug Threat Assessment 2009

Domestic methamphetamine production is projected to surpass 2007 level.
To increase domestic methamphetamine production, individuals and criminal groups are increasingly
circumventing state and federal pseudoephedrine and ephedrine sales restrictions.
Treatment admissions for MDMA addiction may increase as the distribution of MDMA tablets adulterated with highly addictive substances, such as methamphetamine, increases.
Through October 2008 the amount of methamphetamine seized at and between
Southwest Border reached 2,006 kilograms, surpassing the 2007 total (1,745 kgs)
Data shows that the price per pure gram of methamphetamine decreased 16 percent ($284.12 to $237.99) from fourth quarter 2007 to second quarter 2008

Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) 2008

Methamphetamine abuse indicators continued at high levels in Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver.
Except for Atlanta, methamphetamine abuse indicators continued to be low in CEWG areas east of the Mississippi River.
The majority of Meth treatment admissions in 11 CEWG areas during 2007 were White/Non-Hispanic male persons. Atlanta was the exception with 61% of Meth treatment admissions being female.
The DEA estimated 2006 street price per gram of Meth varied widely across 12 CEWG areas, from a low of $15 in Miami to a high of $200 in Boston

The 2008 Monitoring the Future survey reports that methamphetamine use among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students has continued a significant decline. In fact teens reported a reduction in the use of all central nervous system stimulants. "(Annual prevalence rates now stand at 1.2 percent in 8th and 12th grades and 1.5 percent in 10th grade.)"

National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (2007) reports:

There were 299,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used methamphetamine for the first time within the past 12 months in 2002, 260,000 persons in 2003, 318,000 persons in 2004, 192,000 persons in 2005, 259,000 persons in 2006, and 157,000 in 2007. The differences between the 2007 estimate and the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006 estimates were statistically significant.
In 2002, the mean age at first methamphetamine use among recent initiates aged 12 to 49 was 18.9 years; it was 20.4 years in 2003, 20.6 years in 2004, 18.6 years in 2005, 22.2 years in 2006, and 19.1 years in 2007.
The number of persons surveyed 12 years or older who reported that the most recent treatment they received in the past year was for stimulants was 311,000.
The number of persons surveyed 12 years or older who admit dependence on stimulants in 2007 was 406,000.
The number of surveyed persons aged 12 or older who admit stimulant use in 2007 was 642,000.
Persons 18-25 had the highest reported use of meth.
In 2007 males reported a meth use rate 15-20% greater than females.

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What percentage of high school seniors are thought have used methamphetamine during 2008?