ED Visits

The western region of the US had the highest rate of emergency department (ED) visits for methamphetamine-related poisoning compared to other regions (7.8 vs. 2.1-5.8 per 100,000; CDC 2019).  

Meth ED visits in LAC

The number of meth ED visits has been increasing and remains high in LAC.

In Los Angeles County (LAC), from 2005 to 2021, there were 230,226 ED visits that listed any methamphetamine abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning as a diagnosis or external-cause-of-injury (methamphetamine-related). Methamphetamine-related ED visits increased 323% from 2005 to 2021. By 2021, the annual total for methamphetamine-related ED visits reached 22,936 cases (Figure 1).

From 2016 to 2021, the most frequently reported diagnosis for methamphetamine-related ED visits was methamphetamine abuse (69.7%), followed by methamphetamine use (19.3%), methamphetamine dependence (7.2%), and methamphetamine poisoning (5.0%) (Figure 2). 

Although overdose accounted for a relatively small proportion of all methamphetamine ED visits, this problem is becoming more apparent in the US (Hoots 2020).  

A total of 62,772 ED visits listed methamphetamine abuse, dependence, use, or poisoning as the principal diagnosis or principal external-cause-of-injury (primary). Primary methamphetamine ED visits increased 221% from 2005 to 2021. By 2021, the annual total for primary methamphetamine ED visits reached 5,817 cases (Figure 3).

Among primary methamphetamine ED visits, abuse remained the most frequently reported diagnosis type (67.4%), and was again followed by use (15.1%). However, poisoning accounted for a much larger proportion of primary methamphetamine ED visits (13.3%) than of all methamphetamine-related ED visits (Figure 4)

Demographics of Meth ED Visits

Any Mention

Overall, adults aged 25-44 years accounted for over half (58%) of methamphetamine-related ED visits, followed by 45-64 years (20%) and 18-24 years (17%) (Figure 5). Cases tended to be among younger patients, with more patients aged 18-24 and 25-44 years during 2005-2021 (Figure 6).

Primary

The age distribution was similarly observed for primary methamphetamine-related cases (Figures 7-8).  

Any Mention

In 2005-2021, over two-thirds (70%) of methamphetamine-related ED visits were among males. Since 2005, the gap between genders has remained constant, with the proportion of males at consistently double that of females (Figures 9-10). 

Primary

The age distribution patterns were also observed for primary methamphetamine hospitalizations (Figures 11-12).  

Any Mention

In 2005-2021, the proportion of methamphetamine-related ED visits was largest for Latinxs (49%), followed by whites (28%) and blacks (14%) (Figure 13). The race/ethnic distributions for overall methamphetamine-related ED visits from 2005-2021 decreased among whites, but increased among blacks (Figure 14).   

Primary

Patterns were similar for primary methamphetamine ED visits (Figures 15-16).   

References

California's Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data, 2005-2020. California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes — United States Surveillance Special Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Published November 1, 2019. Accessed from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pubs/2019-cdc-drug-surveillance-report.pdf.

Hoots B, Vivolo-Kantor A, Seth P. The rise in non-fatal and fatal overdoses involving stimulants with and without opioids in the United States. Addiction. 2020;115(5):946-958. doi:10.1111/add.14878