REBUILD AFTER METH
The headlines about methamphetamine — meth — have been grim. This highly addictive drug leaves a path of destruction
Are we making strides in the fight against meth? Absolutely. From first responders to substance abuse professionals, those who work on the frontlines to combat meth recognize the progress.
There is still work to be done, however — from eradicating meth production and distribution to helping those battling addiction. Consider Teresa. She is a mother, Girl Scout volunteer, and website developer. Her life took a sharp turn when she started using meth to lose weight. Her story went from bad to worse as she abandoned her family, including her 4-year-old daughter, for nearly a year in the search for her next high. She eventually entered a treatment program and made a commitment to conquer her addiction. Today, she is drug-free and a leader in anti-meth efforts in her community. There are thousands of people like Teresa out there, showing individuals and communities what they need to know. Each year, nearly 150,000 people are admitted to treatment for methamphetamine. (5) And outcomes for meth users entering treatment are comparable to those for users of other similar drugs. (6) Find out about substance abuse treatment, and support meth treatment in your community.
• Meth use among youth and young recognize adults has declined significantly since 2002. (1)
• More meth users are seeking help. Meth treatment admissions have than tripled in the past decade. (2)
• And law enforcement officials are finding fewer and fewer domestic meth labs—meth lab seizures in the U.S. have decreased dramatically since 2004. (3)
• Treatment is available, and it works.
• Drug addiction treatment is cost-effective—for every $1 invested in drug treatment programs, there is a $12 savings in crime and health care costs. (4)
Learn more at methresources.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
1 SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2002-2006, Table 8.40B.
2 SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2007, Table 1b.
3 DOJ, National Drug Intelligence Center, National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2008, December 2007.
4 National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide,” 2000.
5SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2007, Table 1a.
6 National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide,” 2000.
Office of National Drug Control Policy