State resources
State resources
About the center
NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
State resources
State resources
RESOURCES
State 24-hour drug- alcohol help line
In-state calls:
800-562-1240
Seattle-area calls:
206-722-3700
TTY callers:
206-722-3724
The situation: Washington state once was a poster
child for the meth epidemic. Nearly 2,000 toxic meth labs
and dumps were uncovered and the collateral damage the
drug caused ran rampant.

Now the state is the poster child for the meth fight done
right. Washington's landmark meth initiative created active
"meth action teams" in almost every county and between
community action and legislation, the number of lab
discoveries fell 90% (see chart, right)..

The problem has fully abated, however, as noted in the
number of people seeking drug treatment for meth and
the amount of the drug seized by agents of the Drug
Enforcement Administration.

The community mobilization model created more than 20
years ago continues to serve the state well against meth
and other local problems.


Meth in Washington  


-- Number and percentage of people admitted to drug treatment who listed methamphetamine as their primary drug problem:
Year                  2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010
Number           8,453    8,500    8,179    7,724    7,536    7,328
Percentage      21.5%   21.2%   19.7%   17.4%   16.1%  16.6%
(Note: the national average percentage of meth admissions is 6.3%)
Source: Washington Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse


-- Seizures of methamphetamine in Washington 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         76.9       65.6      99.1      72.2     95.4     91.3
Source: Drug Enforcement Administration


If you have comments or information to add, please e-mail the National Meth Center
2000                                            2009
Source: Washington State Healthy Youth Survey
Meth use by state high school students
Percentage who admitted using methamphetamine at least once in their life
-2006        - 2008       - 2010
12th grade                             10th grade                              8th grade
7.1%
5.6%
4.8%
5.9%
4.7%
4.8%
1.9%
2.8%
2.4%
Meth labs/dumps

  2000                                    2010
1,890
92
Washington Department of Ecology