NCJ Number
215090
Date Published
July 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from a 2006 survey conducted in 44 States on the impact of the methamphetamine problem on communities.
Abstract
Results indicated that 48 percent of the 500 sheriffs surveyed reported that methamphetamine was the primary drug problem in their counties. Precursor legislation to prevent the production of methamphetamine was active in 90 percent of counties surveyed and 48 percent reported that the rate of methamphetamine laboratory busts was down due to the effectiveness of the precursor legislation. Increases in robberies and burglaries were linked to methamphetamine by 50 percent of sheriffs while 48 percent linked increasing domestic violence rates to methamphetamine. Over 48 percent of sheriffs indicated that approximately 20 percent of their total arrests during the previous year were related to methamphetamine. Sixty-three percent of sheriffs reported that they experienced continued increases in workload because of the methamphetamine problem. The majority of sheriffs (85 percent) reported that methamphetamine was imported to their States; another 71 percent reported methamphetamine was imported from Mexico. A full 81 percent of sheriffs reported that their county did not sponsor or facilitate a methamphetamine rehabilitation program or center. Participants were a random sample of 500 sheriffs’ offices in 44 States who were surveyed via telephone about the methamphetamine problem in their counties during the past year. The current survey is a followup survey to a similar survey conducted in 2005. The Methamphetamine Survey: Public Safety survey is included in the document. Figures, tables