Trends in Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Admissions to Treatment: 1993-2003
Amphetamines and methamphetamine are central nervous system stimulants. They were the primary substances of abuse1 in nearly 136,000 admissions to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2003. TEDS is an annual compilation of data on the demographics and substance abuse problems of those admitted to substance abuse treatment. Methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions are discussed together because 3 of the 52 States2 and jurisdictions in TEDS do not distinguish between these drugs as substances of abuse. However, for the States that make this distinction, methamphetamine was the primary drug of abuse in 86 percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions in 2003.
Between 1993 and 2003, there were substantial increases in methamphetamine/amphetamine treatment admissions nationally. This report will examine these admissions and some of the changes that took place during this 11-year period.
|Figure 1. Number of Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Admissions: 1993-2003|
|Source: 2003 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).|
The West had the largest number of States exceeding the national average in
both 1993 and 2003. Of the 13 States considered part of the West, only 3 did not
exceed the national average in 1993 or 2003. In 2003, two States in the West had
rates of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions more than four times the
national rate, four States had rates more than three times the national rate,
and two States had rates twice the national rate.
The increase in primary methamphetamine/amphetamine treatment admissions seen nationally did not occur in all States or jurisdictions.4 Nationally, from 1993 to 2003, the rate of treatment admissions for primary methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse increased from 13 to 56 per 100,000 population aged 12 or older (Table 1). The nine States in the Northeast had a relatively low rate of treatment admissions for primary methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 1993, and the rates remained low in 2003. Among the 17 States in the South, the admission rate for primary methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse increased in the majority of States between 1993 and 2003. However, only two States exceeded the national rate in 2003. In 1993, only 1 State of the 12 in the Midwest had a primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admission rate in excess of the national rate. By 2003, six States exceeded the national rate and two of those had rates more than twice the national rate.
The West had the largest number of States exceeding the national average in both 1993 and 2003. Of the 13 States considered part of the West, only 3 did not exceed the national average in 1993 or 2003. In 2003, two States in the West had rates of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions more than four times the national rate, four States had rates more than three times the national rate, and two States had rates twice the national rate.
|Table 1. Primary Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Admission Rates per 100,000 Population Aged 12 or Older, by State: 1993 and 2003|
than 0.05 percent.
-- No data available.
Note: Percentages in boldface exceed the national rate for that year.
Source: 2003 SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS).
Between 1993 and 2003, the proportion of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions that were White declined from 83 to 73 percent while the proportion that were Hispanic increased from 9 to 16 percent.5 The largest part of this increase was among admissions of Mexican origin or ancestry (7 percent in 1993 to over 12 percent in 2003). The proportion that were of other Hispanic origin (including Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Other Hispanic origin) increased from 2 to over 3 percent during this time period. In both 1993 and 2003, Blacks were 3 percent of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions and American Indians/Alaska Natives were 2 percent, while Asians/Pacific Islanders were 2 percent in 1993 and 3 percent in 2003, and those of other races increased from 1 percent in 1993 to 3 percent in 2003.
In 2003, almost two thirds (65 percent) of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions entered ambulatory treatment settings8 (52 percent non-intensive outpatient, 13 percent intensive outpatient, and 0.1 percent detoxification). One quarter of admissions entered residential treatment settings, and the remaining 10 percent entered detoxification settings. These proportions were comparable to the proportion of primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions in each setting in 1993.
1 The primary substance of abuse is the main substance reported at the time of admission.
2 AR, OR, and TX do not distinguish between amphetamine and methamphetamine.
3 Secondary/tertiary substances are other substances of abuse also reported at the time of admission.
4 As States vary in population size, comparisons among States can only be made using rates of admission per 100,000 population.
5 Race/ethnicity categories are determined by combining responses from two questions. In TEDS, respondents identifying themselves as Hispanic and as White or Black or of unknown race are assigned to the Hispanic group. Respondents identifying themselves as Hispanic and as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, or two or more races are assigned to the “other” group. Respondents identifying themselves as non-Hispanic are grouped according to their racial identification. Ethnicity is requested of all States; however, some do not report this variable. In 1993, NC, NV, PR, and SD did not report ethnicity for 75 percent or more of their admissions. In 2003, AL, DC, SD, and WV did not report ethnicity for 75 percent or more of their admissions. Approximately 4 percent of admissions did not have a reported ethnicity in 2003.
6 Principal source of referral describes the person or agency referring the client to the alcohol or drug abuse treatment program. For this analysis, several of these referral sources were aggregated. “Other” source of referral includes “other health care provider,” “school,” “employer,” and “other community referral.”
7 Criminal justice referrals to substance abuse treatment may be affected by legislation. For example, the California Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, enacted in November 2000, diverts drug offenders to treatment. For further information on the impact of this legislation, see: Longshore, D., Urada, D., Evans, E., Hser, Y., Prendergast, M., & Hawken, A. (2005, July 22). Evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act: 2004 report. University of California Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Programs. Retrieved January 20, 2006, from 
8 Service settings are of three types: ambulatory, residential/rehabilitative, and detoxification. Ambulatory settings include intensive outpatient, non-intensive outpatient, and ambulatory detoxification. Residential/rehabilitative settings include hospital (other than detoxification), short-term (30 days or fewer), and long-term (more than 30 days). Detoxification includes 24-hour hospital inpatient and 24-hour free-standing residential..
This page was last updated on December 30, 2008.