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NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
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RESOURCES
The situation: In the most recent National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, Nevada led the nation in percentage of people who had
used methamphetamine in the past year. In response to the
growing threat from meth, Gov. Jim Gibbons and the state
legislature passed legislation marking $17.4 million aside for meth-
related problems from supply to treatment. The state's youth have
been consistently using meth at a much higher rate than the rest
of the country (see chart below). A decade ago one of every five
high school seniors said they had tried it at least once. Overall
high school use remains higher than the U.S. average today.
Meanwhile, the state has seen clandestine labs nearly vanish but
at the same time, imports -- as measured by DEA seizures -- have
continued to grow (see chart, right).




Meth in Nevada  

-- High school students who say they have used methamphetamine
at least once during their life:
Year                                            1999       2001     2003        2005        2007       2009
U.S. average (all grades)             9.1%      9.8%      7.6%       6.2%       4.4%       4.1%
Nevada average (all grades)      16.2%     15.6%    12.5%      11.7%      6.3%       5.9%
Nevada 9th grade                       13.4%     11.0%     9.0%      10.6%      4.3%       4.7%
Nevada 10th grade                     15.7%     12.5%    10.9%     10.5%      5.5%        5.7%
Nevada 11th grade                      15.1%    19.3%     16.8%     12.3%     7.5%        7.3%
Nevada 12th grade                     20.6%     20.1%    14.9%     12.8%      8.9%        5.0%

Source: Centers for Disease Control survey

-- Clandestine meth lab busts in Nevada since 2004
Year                 2004     2005    2006     2007     2008     2009    2010
Lab busts           83         53       33         14        9           10        7
Source: El Paso Intelligence Center


-- Number of people admitted to drug treatment for amphetamine-related addictions and the percentage of all admissions that were related to amphetamines (mostly meth).
Year                  2005       2006     2007      2008     2009    2010
Number           3,420      3,184     2,776      1,967    1,893   n/a
Percentage       34.1%     31.8%    28.2%    21%    19.1%   n/a
(Note: the national average percentage of meth admissions is 6.3%)
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


-- Seizures of methamphetamine in Nevada by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Seizure amounts are in kilograms (note: 1 kg. = 2.2 lbs.):
Year                 2005     2006     2007     2008     2009    2010
Seizures           59.8      72.4      55.1      44.2     36.9      73.4
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration


Speaking of meth

“The main goal is to reduce the tremendous cost in terms of crime, in terms of health, in terms of addiction that meth costs our state and our country. In Nevada, it’s been the No. 1 concern of law enforcement for several years.”
- State Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Washoe County, sponsor of a prescription-only pseudoephedrine bill



If you have comments or information to add, please e-mail the National Meth Center
Shifting meth supply
From 2005-2010, the number of meth lab busts has fallen dramatically, at the same time, DEA meth seizures have gone up in Nevada.
- Seizures     - Lab busts
+23%
-92%
Source: El Paso Intelligence
Center; DEA