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State resources
About the center
NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
State resources
State resources
The situation: Methamphetamine is the
primary drug threat in California. Mexican
drug gangs dominate the production
and distribution of high-quality meth but
some is still produced by residents
of the state. The mainland U.S. meth
epidemic started largely in California
where biker gangs sold "crank" smuggled
in the crank cases of their bikes.
In 2000, about half of the state's counties
reported methamphetamine as its most
serious drug problem but by 2005 that
sentiment was nearly unanimous.

The amount of meth seized by the DEA in
California dwarfs all other state totals in 2010.

The top five:      kilograms
California              3,761
Texas                     762
Arizona                   629
Tennessee              141
Washington              91


Meth in California

-- In drug treatment centers around the country, meth accounts for about 6.3% of all
admissions. In California that figure was 27.9% -- more than one in every four
treatment admissions.
Number of people seeking treatment for meth and the percentage of all admissions
that were for methamphetamine:

Year                 2006      2007      2008      2009     2010
Total meth         71,087   68,923   59,155   49,239   38,328
Pct. meth           35.9%   34.1%    29.3%    27.3%    27.9%
(Note: the number of treatment admissions has dropped due primarily to lack of funding)

-- Clandestine methamphetamine labs have been a problem in the state, but their numbers
have fallen from historic highs. Number of labs busted by law enforcement:

Year     2004    2005    2006    2007    2008    2009
Labs      683      520      465     323      419      329

-- "Super labs" -- those capable of producing 10 pounds of meth or more in a single batch --  have
been on the rise in California from 10 in 2007 to 15 in 2008 and 13 in 2009.

-- California youth apparently uses methamphetamine more often than their peers across the country. The state attorney general in 2007 noted that 7% of high school juniors had used meth sometime in their life. Nationally, about 6.3% of high school students said they had used meth during their lives.

Speaking of meth in California

-- "The Central Valley of California remains the meth capital of the world and has held that distinction, unfortunately, for many years. These organizations are all over the place out there, folks,"
- Sacramento County Sheriff's Lt. Fred Links

For referrals or other help call:
800-879-2772
800-662-4357
916-327-3728
(Counselors on line Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PT. Leave message all other times)
RESOURCES
If you have comments or information to add, please e-mail the National Meth Center
DEA meth seizures in Calif.
In kilograms (1 kg = 2.2 pounds)
2005      2006      2007      2008      2009     2010
1,584
3,761
137% increase 2005-2010
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration