Methamphetamine Statistics and Abuse

Meth is one of America's most dangerously addictive and misused drugs. It has an extreme physical and psychological effect on the body and has become a lethal drug even to those who use it for the first time. 

The devastating effects of meth have not even escaped the clutches of children. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 8th graders using methamphetamine increased by 61% between 2016 and 2020. Here are some other highly shocking statistics associated with methamphetamine abuse.

Methamphetamine Statistics in 2020 and 2021

• 0.9% of people in 2020, age 12 and above, reported having used methamphetamine in the previous twelve months, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

• 0.2% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in 2021 admitted to using meth in the previous 12 months, according to the 2021 Monitoring the Future Survey.

• 1.5 million people, or about 0.6% of people aged 12 and older, report developing a Meth Use Disorder in the previous twelve months, according to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

CDC wonder database revealed that about 24000 people die from a psychostimulant overdose, primarily methamphetamine.

What is Methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is manufactured from the parent drug amphetamine and has the original purpose of usage in bronchial inhalers and nasal decongestants. Methamphetamine is an odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that quickly dissolves in alcohol or water. It is a highly addictive and powerful stimulant that significantly impacts the central nervous system.

Like amphetamine, methamphetamine boosts energy, talkativeness, euphoria, and decreased appetite. However, methamphetamine causes a lot of the drug to enter your brain, unlike amphetamine, which became a more potent stimulant. This makes methamphetamine a widely misused drug, with its more harmful and longer-lasting effects on the central nervous system.

U.S Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, groups methamphetamine under schedule II stimulants, mostly legally available through non-refillable prescriptions. Most doctors prescribe the drug for weight loss treatments to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or short-term components. However, medical professionals make sure to specify the drug in limited dosages that are much lower than those customarily misused.