Check it Out: • 1 LB of METH = 5 LBS of   TOXIC WASTE • In 2004 alone, there were more   than 10,000 meth lab cleanups   at a cost of $18.6 million (Source: DEA, NIDA, NIH, USDHHS)

Other Drug Information: Alcohol Cocaine Ecstasy Fentanyl Hallucinogens Heroin Inhalants LSD Marijuana Prescription Drugs Steroids

The Many Faces of Meth: Before After

(Source: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office - Faces of Meth™)

Cocaine Most Widely Used Illicit Stimulant; Methamphetamine Use Varies

The Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) is a network of epidemiologists and researchers from 21 U.S. areas that meets twice a year to discuss current and emerging substance abuse problems. The 57th meeting, held in California this past January, focused on stimulant abuse, particularly of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Following are highlights from the recently released advance report of the meeting proceedings.

Cocainecontinues to be the most widely abused illicit stimulant in CEWG areas. Indicators of cocaine abuse remain high in all CEWG areas exceptHonolulu and San Diego, where cocaine indicators are low but methamphetamine indicators remain at high levels.


The extent ofmethamphetamine abuse varies greatly across CEWG areas. Methamphetamine abuse indicators continue to be high in Honolulu, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. "Eastern CEWG areas other than Atlanta continue to report very low indicators of methamphetamine abuse, but some eastern area CEWG representatives reported recent increases in methamphetamine labs instate and, although the numbers remain small, increases were observed in methamphetamine treatment admissions in some CEWG metropolitan and outlying nonmetropolitan areas."


While methamphetaminecontinues to be more prevalent in rural areas, there are clear indications of the availability and abuse of methamphetamine in some suburban and urban areas as well. In Atlanta, "methamphetamine is an increasing threat in the suburban areas because of the drug's low price and ease of availability; as a consequence, it is replacing some traditional drugs as a less expensive, more potent alternative."


Methamphetamineuse among gay males was reported in several CEWG areas, including New York; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; and Miami, "raising concern that the combination of methamphetamine use and associated sexual behaviors may increase risk for HIV transmission."
For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF file at www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol14/14-38.pdf.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from The Center on Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.