Methamphetamine Addiction Trends in 1995

Methamphetamine Addiction has recently seen a shift from small-scale domestic manufacture and trafficking of methamphetamine to large-scale Mexican operations.

Availability, purity, and methamphetamine use continues to increase in mainland States where it has been a longstanding problem: California (especially San Diego), Texas, and Arizona, which are part of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG).  Other areas including Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Miami also report increases in indicators of methamphetamine abuse.

There are reports that new distribution routes for methamphetamine trafficking may follow those for cocaine and heroin, potentially introducing methamphetamine addiction to areas where its prevalence is currently low. New user populations, such as some Native Americans in Arizona, are beginning to inject for the first time and the drug is increasingly involved in violent behavior, including child abuse and homicide. In addition, smokeable methamphetamine (ice) continues as one of the most serious substance abuse problems in Hawaii and has spread to a number of Pacific Island nations, such as Palau, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and Papua New Guinea. Methamphetamine addiction is also prevalent in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand and the Philippines.

Information released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse 1995

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