NCJ Number
221707
Date Published
February 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This report examines the characteristics of admissions to substance abuse treatment in which methamphetamine/amphetamine was the primary substance being abused and compares these admissions with those in which other substances were primary.
Abstract
In 2005, 169,500 admissions for substance abuse treatment involved methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse; this represented 9 percent of all admissions. Persons admitted for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse were more likely to be female than admissions for other substances (46 percent compared with 31 percent). The criminal justice system was the principal source of referral for 49 percent of the methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions, compared with 34 percent of other admissions. Methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were, on average, 3 years younger than those admitted for the abuse of other substances (31 years old compared with 34 years old). Nearly three-fourths of methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions were White (71 percent) compared with 58 percent for other admissions. Hispanics also accounted for a higher proportion of methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions than for other admissions (18 percent compared to 13 percent). In contrast, Blacks accounted for a greater proportion of admissions for other substances compared with methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions (24 percent compared to 3 percent). Most primary methamphetamine/amphetamine admissions in 2005 were in the West (65 percent), followed by the Midwest (19 percent), South (15 percent), and Northeast (1 percent). In contrast, the highest proportion of admissions for other primary substances was the Northeast (34 percent), followed by the Midwest (24 percent), South (22 percent), and West (20 percent). Data for this report were obtained from the Treatment Episode Data Set, which is an annual compilation of data on the demographic characteristics and substance abuse problems of those admitted to substance abuse treatment, primarily at facilities that receive some public funding. 4 figures