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Methamphetamine

Brief Description

Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant drug that is similar in structure to amphetamine. Due to its high potential for abuse, methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. Although methamphetamine can be prescribed by a doctor, its medical uses are limited, and the doses that are prescribed are much lower than those typically abused. Most of the methamphetamine abused in this country comes from foreign or domestic superlabs, although it can also be made in small, illegal laboratories, where its production endangers the people in the labs, neighbors, and the environment. Learn more

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Statistics and Trends

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Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Methamphetamine for 8th Graders, 10th Graders, and 12th Graders; 2016 (in percent)*
Drug	Time Period	8th Graders	10th Graders	12th Graders
Methamphetamine	Lifetime	0.60	[0.70]	1.20
	Past Year	0.40	[0.40]	0.60
	Past Month	0.30	0.20	0.30

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National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Trends in Prevalence of Methamphetamine for Ages 12 or Older, Ages 12 to 17, Ages 18 to 25, and Ages 26 or Older; 2015 (in percent)*
Drug	Time Period	Ages 12 or Older	Ages 12 to 17	Ages 18 to 25	Ages 26 or Older
Methamphetamine	Lifetime	5.40	0.30	3.30	6.40
	Past Year	0.60	0.20	0.90	0.60
	Past Month	0.30	0.10	0.40	0.40

Related Publications

Related Resources

Other Resources

MEDLINEplus Health Information on Drug Abuse - National Library of Medicine, NIH
www.abovetheinfluence.com - Office of National Drug Control Policy
healthfinder.gov - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIH-sponsored clinical trials available to you.

NIDA Clinical Trial Locator - answer a few simple questions and get contact information for Clinical Trials near you.

Other Clinical Trials information sources:

NIH Clinical Trials and You - NIH site that helps explain about clinical trials and why people participate.
NIDA Trials at ClinicalTrials.gov - a resource of federally and privately supported clinical trials.
Clinical Research Studies from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) - a NIDA coordinated network of research institutions conducting human trials on drug abuse solutions.
Research Studies at NIDA Intramural Research Program - located in Baltimore, Maryland.

This page was last updated December 2012

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