Who Uses Methamphetamine?

Once found primarily on the west coast of the United States, methamphetamine abuse has now been seen across the nation. Many areas in the west, midwest and rural south have been particularly hard-hit by meth. Meth addiction has ravaged thousands of families and devastated many communities.

More than 1.4 million Americans have used meth, according to a survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. The typical meth user was once a male between the ages of 18 and 40. This is no longer true. Today, almost half of meth addicts are women. Many began using the drug because they wanted to boost their energy level or lose weight.

Meth use by teenagers is a concern. A recent survey of teens indicates that 6.5 percent of North Carolina’s high school students have used meth. Hispanics account for one quarter of new meth users. In fact, Hispanic teens are two times more likely to use meth than whites and African-Americans. The rate of meth use among Native American youth is two to three times that of white youth.