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National Drug Intelligence Center  National Drug Threat Assessment 2005 Summary Report February 2005 Methamphetamine Key Findings Trends and Developments    Availability     Demand    Production     Transportation    Distribution The threat posed to the United States by the trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine is high and increasing. Methamphetamine availability, production, and distribution have expanded to more areas of the country; however, national-level data indicate an overall decline in the rates of methamphetamine use. Nevertheless, demand for the drug remains relatively high. In fact, NSDUH 2003 data indicate that more than 1.3 million persons aged 12 or older than to individuals voluntarily seeking treatment for abuse of the drug. Unique Challenges of Methamphetamine Production and Abuse Methamphetamine production and abuse present unique challenges to law enforcement and public health officials, particularly in rural areas where much of the production and abuse occurs. Law enforcement personnel, first responders, clandestine laboratory operators, and those in proximity to laboratories--particularly children--often are injured as a result of chemical burns, fires, and explosions at clandestine laboratories. The environmental damage caused by improper storage and disposal of chemicals and chemical waste attendant to methamphetamine production is severe, and the cost of soil and structure remediation at contaminated methamphetamine production sites is significant. Child neglect and abuse are common within families whose parents or caregivers produce or use methamphetamine. Moreover, MTF data for 2003 show that the rate of past year methamphetamine use among students and adults in rural areas was sharply higher than rates in large metropolitan areas.  To Top      To Contents    Key Findings Powder methamphetamine is the predominant type available in the United States, and law enforcement reporting as well as drug survey data indicates that, nationally, powder methamphetamine availability is increasing.  The availability of ice methamphetamine has increased in the past year because of an increase in ice production and distribution by Mexican criminal groups; however, this form of the drug is not as widely available in the United States as powder methamphetamine. Law enforcement reporting as well as laboratory seizure and arrest data indicates that methamphetamine availability has increased over the past year in the Northeast Region, particularly in rural areas. For example, EPIC National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure Statistics (NCLSS) data show that the number of reported methamphetamine laboratory seizures in the Northeast region increased from 94 in 2002 to 143 in 2003. DEA methamphetamine-related arrests also have increased recently in the Northeast region from 179 in 2002 to 198 in 2003. Law enforcement reporting indicates that the increase in methamphetamine availability in the Northeast region is due primarily to a significant increase in wholesale distribution by Mexican criminal groups. Nevertheless, methamphetamine availability in the Northeast remains lower than in any other region of the country.  National-level rates of use for methamphetamine are lower than those for many illicit drugs, primarily because the drug is largely unavailable to significant portions of the population, such as those in the Northeast (the most populous region in the country). According to MTF, past year use of methamphetamine among adolescents and young adults has fluctuated but declined overall since 1999. The number of treatment admissions for methamphetamine has increased significantly since 1999; however, the increase appears to be due primarily to an increase in criminal justice referrals rather than to individuals voluntarily seeking treatment for abuse of the drug. NCLSS data show that, nationally, there has been a steady increase in the number of reported laboratory seizures since 1999 and that laboratory seizures have increased sharply in most eastern states. However, the number of reported superlab seizures has decreased sharply from 246 in 2001, to 144 in 2002, and 133 in 2003, likely because Mexican criminal groups producing the drug in the United States are having greater difficulty in obtaining bulk quantities of pseudoephedrine from Canada. In fact, preliminary data show that superlab seizures may have declined significantly in 2004.  Figure 3. Reported Methamphetamine Laboratory Seizures, 1999-2003 d-link Source:  National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System. Methamphetamine production appears to have increased sharply in Mexico since 2002. Mexican criminal groups are able to acquire bulk quantities of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine from China and other countries for use in Mexico-based laboratories. Methamphetamine smuggling from Mexico into the United States via Arizona appears to have increased sharply since 2001. More methamphetamine was seized at or between POEs in Arizona in 2003 than at or between POEs in California or Texas.  To Top      To Contents      Trends and Developments Availability  Methamphetamine availability has increased in the Northeast Region over the past year. All five DEA Field Divisions (Boston, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.) and five HIDTAs (Appalachia, New England, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia/Camden, and Washington/Baltimore) in the Northeast Region report that methamphetamine availability has increased; one of the Field Divisions (Washington, D.C.) and the Appalachia HIDTA describe the increase as significant. Increasing methamphetamine availability in the Northeast Region also is indicated by data that show increases in the number of DEA arrests as well as Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations and indictments in the region. According to DEA, the number of arrests for methamphetamine increased from 179 in 2002 to 198 in 2003. Similarly, the number of methamphetamine-related OCDETF case initiations in the Northeast Region increased from 2 in fiscal year (FY) 2002 to 12 in FY2003. The proportion of OCDETF indictments in which methamphetamine was charged increased from less than 1.0 percent in FY2002 to 12.0 percent in FY2003. NDIC Comment: Anecdotal law enforcement reporting indicates that the increase in methamphetamine availability in the Northeast Region is due primarily to a significant increase in wholesale distribution by Mexican criminal groups. According to DEA, Mexican criminal groups are the predominant wholesale distributors of methamphetamine in the region, and their presence in the region is increasing, particularly in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Law enforcement reporting also indicates that methamphetamine availability in the Northeast is being augmented significantly by a sharp increase in methamphetamine production within the region, particularly by individuals producing small quantities of the drug (usually ounce quantities per cook) in small capacity laboratories. NCLSS data indicate that the number of reported methamphetamine laboratory seizures in the Northeast Region increased from 94 in 2002 to 143 in 2003.         Demand According to Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) data for 2002, the number of methamphetamine treatment admissions to publicly funded drug treatment facilities increased from 58,795 in 1999, to 66,975 in 2000, to 81,799 in 2001, and 104,481 in 2002.  NDIC Comment: More individuals have independently sought treatment for methamphetamine; however, criminal justice referrals account for the greatest percentage of the increase. In fact, the percentage of treatment admissions for methamphetamine that were the result of criminal justice referrals now appears to account for most treatment admissions for methamphetamine (52.6%), a rate much higher than for cocaine (26.1%) or heroin (13.0%). TEDS data indicate that the proportion of treatment admissions for abuse of methamphetamine/amphetamine (primarily methamphetamine) resulting from individuals requesting treatment increased from 26.8 percent in 1999 to 27.3 percent in 2000, but has since decreased to 26.0 percent in 2001 and 24.0 percent in 2002. Over the same period, the pro-portion of treatment admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine based on criminal justice referrals decreased from 45.6 percent in 1999 to 45.0 percent in 2000, but then increased to 47.8 percent in 2001 and 52.6 percent in 2002. Figure 4. Percentages of Treatment Admissions for  Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Based on Criminal Justice Referrals, 1999-2002 d-link Source:  Treatment Episode Data Set. To Top      To Contents Production  There are no conclusive estimates regarding methamphetamine production in Mexico; however, methamphetamine production appears to have increased sharply in Mexico since 2002. According to DEA, Mexican criminal groups--particularly those based in Colima, Michoacán, Jalisco, and Nayarit--have increased the number and size of methamphetamine laboratories that they operate in Mexico. Furthermore, seizures of high capacity superlabs in the United States that are typically operated by U.S.-based Mexican criminal groups have decreased sharply since 2001. Moreover, there has been an increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized in Mexico and at land POEs along the Southwest Border. Data from the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) indicate that the amount of methamphetamine reported seized in Mexico increased from 400 kilograms in 2001, to 457 kilograms in 2002, and 652 kilograms in 2003. Furthermore, 2003 EPIC data show that the amount of methamphetamine seized along the Southwest Border increased from 1,130 kilograms in 2002, to 1,733 kilograms in 2003, and 1,168 kilograms through July 2004. NDIC Comment: Mexican criminal groups appear to be producing greater quantities of methamphetamine in Mexico for distribution in the United States because they have greater access to bulk quantities of precursor chemicals--particularly ephedrine and pseudoephedrine--in Mexico and because they are able to operate laboratories in areas of Mexico with minimal law enforcement presence. According to law enforcement reporting, Mexican criminal groups purchase bulk quantities of pseudoephedrine tablets, often more than 1 ton per shipment, from sources in China. Law enforcement reporting further indicates that many of the laboratories established during the past 2 years in Mexico are capable of producing multihundred-pound quantities of methamphetamine per production cycle. By comparison, NCLSS data indicate that the largest reported methamphetamine laboratory seized in the United States in 2003 was capable of producing 50 pounds per production cycle.     Transportation Drug seizure data indicate that methamphetamine smuggling from Mexico into the United States via the Arizona-Mexico border appears to have increased significantly. The amount of methamphetamine seized at or between Arizona POEs has increased from 168 kilograms in 2001, to 313 kilograms in 2002, and 640 kilograms in 2003. In fact, the amount of methamphetamine seized at or between POEs in Arizona in 2003 exceeded the amounts seized at or between POEs in California (593 kg), Texas (484 kg), and New Mexico (16 kg). Figure 5. Methamphetamine Seizures At or Between Ports of Entry, in Kilograms, 2003 d-link Source:  El Paso Intelligence Center. NDIC Comment: The sharp increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized at or between POEs in Arizona is more likely an indication of Mexican DTOs and criminal groups smuggling more methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States than a shift in smuggling routes in favor of Arizona POEs rather than California, New Mexico, or Texas POEs. EPIC data show that since 2002--the year that law enforcement reporting indicates methamphetamine production began to increase significantly in Mexico--methamphetamine seizures at or between POEs in California and Texas increased sharply, although not to the extent of the increases in Arizona. From 2002 to 2003, seizures at or between POEs in California and Texas increased from 478 to 593 kilograms and from 305 to 484 kilograms, respectively. Methamphetamine seizures at or between POEs in New Mexico were much lower than those in the other states along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2002 (33.53 kg) and 2003 (16.15 kg).  To Top      To Contents Distribution Ice methamphetamine distribution has increased significantly since 2001 in many of the largest domestic methamphetamine markets. Anecdotal law enforcement reporting indicates that ice distribution has increased sharply in Honolulu, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and St. Louis since 2001. In some methamphetamine markets, ice is now considered the preferred form of the drug, supplanting powder methamphetamine as the predominant type. For example, DEA and HIDTA reporting indicate that ice methamphetamine now is the type most often distributed locally in Phoenix and San Diego, two of the PMAs for methamphetamine. In most areas, Mexican criminal groups control whole-sale distribution of ice; however, Asian criminal groups distribute wholesale quantities of ice in certain Pacific Region markets. Retail ice distributors predominantly are Caucasian independent dealers, Hispanic street gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs). NDIC Comment: Ice distribution has increased in these cities because of a sharp increase in ice production and distribution by Mexican criminal groups seeking the higher profit margins associated with ice distribution. The costs associated with ice production are slightly higher than those of powder methamphetamine, and ice production requires greater knowledge and experience; accordingly, ice methamphetamine often is sold at prices much higher than those of powder methamphetamine.   Table 5. Methamphetamine National Price Ranges, 2003     Pound Ounce Gram Powder $1,600-$45,000 $270-$5,000 $20-$300 Ice $6,000-$70,000 $500-$3,100 $60-$700        Source: Drug Enforcement Administration. Methamphetamine Primary Market Areas Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco are the PMAs for methamphetamine because these cities have very high levels of methamphetamine abuse and are among the leading regional- or national-level methamphetamine distribution centers. Several other significant markets for methamphetamine either exhibit high levels of consumption or serve as distribution centers for the drug, although not to the extent of the four PMAs. For example, methamphetamine use in Seattle appears to be considerable as evidenced by a high number of ED mentions for methamphetamine; however, drug seizure data do not substantiate Seattle as a distribution center for methamphetamine at a level comparable with the PMAs. Conversely, Dallas appears to be a significant distribution center for methamphetamine based on EPIC drug seizure data; however, methamphetamine consumption in Dallas appears to be much lower than in the PMAs. Los Angeles. Methamphetamine use in Los Angeles is very high as evidenced by more ED mentions than any other DAWN reporting city. Mexican criminal groups control most wholesale and midlevel methamphetamine distribution within the Los Angeles area and also control most wholesale distribution of the drug from Los Angeles to other markets throughout the country. Phoenix. Methamphetamine use in Phoenix is high and increasing as evidenced by a high number of ED mentions and an increase in methamphetamine-related deaths. Mexican DTOs and criminal groups control most wholesale methamphetamine distribution in Phoenix. San Francisco. The level of methamphetamine consumption in San Francisco is very high compared with that of most other cities. Mexican criminal groups control most wholesale and midlevel distribution of powder and ice methamphetamine in San Francisco, although Hawaiian, Filipino, and other Asian DTOs control the distribution of the ice they produce San Diego. Methamphetamine use in San Diego is very high. Mexican DTOs and criminal groups are the primary wholesale and midlevel distributors of methamphetamine in the San Diego area.        To Top     To Contents     To Previous Page     To Next Page To Publications Page     To Home Page

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