Advisory

Admissions to Treatment for Methamphetamine Abuse Rise Sharply

Admissions to treatment for methamphetamine abuse have increased nationally, moving across the country from West to East. States in the Midwest and South that had few admissions due to methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 1993 are now experiencing high rates of admissions. Methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions have increased nationally from1993-2003, from 13 to 56 admissions per 100,000 population ages 12 and older. These findings are part of a report released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from continued analysis of the 2003 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).

The report, “Trends in Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Admissions to Treatment: 1993-2003” combines the two substances of abuse because 3 of the 52 states and jurisdictions in TEDS do not distinguish between the powerful amphetamine, methamphetamine, and all other amphetamines. However, for the majority of states that do distinguish between the substances, 86 percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions in 2003 were for methamphetamine.

States with methamphetamine/amphetamine treatment rates higher than the national average in 2003 include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

"Methamphetamine is undeniably a uniquely destructive drug," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said. "As this new analysis of data shows many states continue to see a dramatic increase in the numbers of methamphetamine users in treatment programs. To help support state efforts to provide treatment for people addicted to methamphetamine, the President has proposed $25 million for targeted methamphetamine treatment in the Access to Recovery program for FY 2007."

The climb in admissions to treatment for methamphetamine/amphetamine as the primary substance of abuse rose from 28,000 admissions in 1993 (nearly 2 percent of 1.6 million admissions nationally) to almost 136,000 admissions in 2003 (over 7 percent of the total 1.8 million admissions).

Along with states with admission rates for methamphetamine/amphetamine that exceed the national average, there are now several states that have had large increases in admissions even though they are below the national average. These states include Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Indiana and North Dakota.

The nine states in the Northeast had low rates of treatment admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 1993, and those rates continued to remain low in 2003.

TEDS collects data on the approximately 1.8 million annual admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities, primarily those that receive some public funding.  The report is available on the web at www.oas.samhsa.gov. 

SAMHSA, is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions, treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service