Meth Addiction

During 1999 4.3% (9.4 million people) of the U.S. population reported trying methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime. The highest rate of meth use was among the 18-25 age group with 5.2% of them reporting lifetime meth use during 1999.

Meth lab seizures have gone up 577% nationally since 1995.

Statistics over the past few years show Oklahoma among the nations leader in Meth labs, arrests, addiction and cases.

In 1994 the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 63 meth labs. That figure climbed to 879 in 1996 and 1,627 in 1998.

Meth numbers also indicate the drug has yet to make it to the East Coast. Cities such as Oklahoma and Omaha have worse meth problems, than New York City or Detroit.

Nowhere is it a bigger problem that in the Midwest, where meth accounts for nearly 90% of all drug cases, and nowhere is it more prevalent than in Oklahoma, which ranks in the top five in almost every meth category.

Meth is surpassing cocaine as the drug of choice in Oklahoma. The state medical examiner's office reports the number of death cases testing positive for meth have been higher than cocaine for the past three years. The office also reports meth is found in more cases of homicides, and motor vehicle accidents.

The estimated cost of making meth is $100 an ounce, with a street value of $800 an ounce.

While cheap for the people who make it, meth is costly for taxpayers. The OSBI estimates that it costs an average of $2,000 to clean up a lab. Many law enforcement agencies including the OSBI contract out for cleaning services. The OSBI spent $1 million on cleaning services each year.

The courts have felt the effects of the meth invasion, with several distinct courts overloaded with cases. Many are being dropped because of delays in meth testing at state laboratories.

This year, both the legislature and federal government have increased funding to prosecute meth manufacturers.

Methamphetamine's high lasts for 6 to 12 hours, and 50% of the drug is removed from the body in 12 hours.

Meth's street value is approximately $3,000 per pound.

Meth is a highly addictive drug that can be manufactured by using products commercially available anywhere in the United States.

Methamphetamine Trend Statistics Across the United States

Methamphetamine trends across the United States are indicators of the rate of Methamphetamine abuse, Methamphetamine addiction, domestic violence, and child abuse. The Methamphetamine trends for each state has a direct correlation to the amount of Methamphetamine seized by federal authorities.