graphspeak

Volume 27, Issue 469

June 12, 2006

MYTHS ABOUT METHAMPHETAMINE

Christina Kent

The many myths that surround methamphetamine use tend to interfere in the fight against it by reducing the resources given to prevention and treatment, say drug experts. For example, many people believe that treatment for meth addiction is much more difficult and takes much longer than treatment for addiction to other drugs. In fact, treatment for meth addiction is the same as treatment for addiction to other drugs, and the success rate also is similar.

A 2003 study conducted for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services found that meth users and users of other substances who completed treatment did not differ in their post-treatment outcomes, except for in hospital admissions: meth users had fewer inpatient hospital admissions in the year following treatment than users of other substances.

The study found that meth users were statistically as likely to be readmitted to treatment one year after completion of treatment (18.9 percent), compared to users of other drugs (20.5 percent); meth users were just as likely to be employed as other drug users one year after treatment (49.2 percent, compared to 49 percent); and were just as likely to be arrested following treatment (12.7 percent, compared to 11.1 percent).

Meth, however, does differ from most other illicit drugs in a number of ways.

The production process is exceedingly dangerous and produces extensive environmental damage.

Meth is the drug of choice for many women—the ratio of treatment admissions for all substances is one woman for every three men; for meth, the ratio is one woman for every man. Despite this, the percentage of treatment facilities that provide services for women has decreased from 40 percent in 2003, to 36 percent in 2004.

There are significant racial and ethnic disparities among users. Hawaiians and Native Americans use meth at two to three times the rate of Caucasians, and African Americans use meth at the lowest rate, according to recent congressional testimony given by Nancy K. Young of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. (See graph, below.)

The number of persons meeting clinical criteria for meth abuse or dependence doubled between 2002 and 2004, from 164,000 persons to 346,000, Young noted. However, treatment resources lag far behind need: In 2003 and 2004, 6.43 million Americans needed and didn’t receive treatment for illicit drugs; 17.37 million needed and didn’t get treatment for alcohol addiction.

On the up side, while meth use varies tremendously from region to region, the number of people who used it nationwide within the past year and past month has remained relatively stable.

Download PDF Version

MYTHS ABOUT METHAMPHETAMINE