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NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
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The situation: North Dakota is among a relatively small number of states that has enjoyed success in turning around its methamphetamine problem. Use of the drug among high school students is down significantly. The number of clandestine labs uncovered has fallen dramatically. The percentage of drug treatment admissions for meth has reached its lowest level in half a decade. This is all not to say that the drug has vanished. Drug traffickers from California and Mexico continue to import meth, though measured by federal interdictions, those may be dwindling as well.

Meth in North Dakota  

-- High school students who say they have used methamphetamine at least once during their life: Source: Centers for Disease Control survey
Year                      1999      2001      2003      2005         2007       2009
9th grade             8.4%     10.3%     7.8%       3.2%       3.1%       2.1%
10th grade            9.5%      6.8%      6.0%       3.8%       2.4%       4.1%  
11th grade           11.0%     7.7%      9.5%       8.7%       4.9%       3.4%
12th grade           13.5%    12.8%    10.3%       5.4%       5.5%       3.4%


-- Clandestine meth lab busts in North Dakota since 2004
Year                 2004     2005    2006     2007     2008     2009    2010
Lab busts         236       170      39          27        33         36         9
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            419       378       249       190      128      108
Percentage      18.1%   14.3%   10.3%    7.6%    5.3%    6.0%
(Note: the national average percentage of meth admissions is 6.3%)
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


-- Seizures of methamphetamine in North Dakota 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           3.8        6.7       1.5       0.7        1.0       n/a
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration

If you have comments or information to add, please e-mail the National Meth Center
Meth use starts fast then slows among state 12th graders
In 1999 about one in seven North Dakota seniors said they used meth at least once. By 2009 the rate had fallen by three-fourths.
-North Dakota         - U.S. avg.
Source: Centers for Disease Control survey
13.5%
11.5%
3.4%
4.1%
1999              2001              2003              2005              2007              2009