Amelia M. Arria, PhD¹, Richard A. Rawson, PhD², Beth A. Finnerty, MPH², and D. William Wood Wood, PhD³. (1) Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), University of Maryland, College Park, 4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 501, College Park, MD 20740, (2) Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 11050 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90025, 310-312-0500 x511, matrixex@ucla.edu, (3) Sociology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2424 Maile Way, Room 247, Honolulu, HI 96822-2223

SESSION ABSTRACT

Methamphetamine production and abuse have become international issues of concern to health providers, social services, law enforcement, and environmental agencies. Once dominant in the western United States, abuse of the drug continues to spread geographically and to different user populations. Methamphetamine abuse and production continue at high levels in Hawaii, west coast areas, and some southwestern areas. Abuse and manufacture of methamphetamine continues to move eastward, especially to rural areas. Not only is abuse spreading to new areas of the country thought previously to be “untouched,” but also its use is increasing among populations not previously known to use the drug.

Methamphetamine can be made with readily available inexpensive materials and great variation exists in the manufacturing processes and chemicals used. In addition to the large “super labs” located mostly in California, and trafficking of the drug from Mexico, there has been a proliferation of small “mom and pop” laboratories throughout the Nation, especially in rural areas. Health consequences to methamphetamine abusers are serious, but there are also consequences to children and to agencies that are responsible for clandestine methamphetamine laboratory seizure and remediation.

This symposium will present evidence to substantiate the existence of a growing methamphetamine epidemic. Presenters will describe the problem by region of the country as well as internationally. Data and statistics from a variety of sources, including treatment admissions, emergency department episodes, deaths, arrests, laboratory seizures, and price and purity, in addition to statistics collected from arrestee and adolescent populations will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of the Session attendees will be able to

• Describe the trends in use of methamphetamine use in America and Internationally
• Understand what methamphetamine is, the consequences of its use, and the prevalence of its abuse.
• be knowledgeable about the potential treatments for methamphetamine abuse and the evidence base that supports those treatments.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Drug Addiction

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.