The western region of the US had the highest rate of methamphetamine-related emergency department (ED) visits compared to other regions
(373 vs. 79-92 per 100,000; SAMHSA, 2025).
In Los Angeles County (LAC), from 2015 to 2024, there were 231,792 ED visits that listed any methamphetamine abuse, dependence, use (including maternal use), or poisoning as a diagnosis or external-cause-of-injury (methamphetamine-related). Methamphetamine-related ED visits decreased 18% from 2018 to 2022, but increased 21% from 2022 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total for methamphetamine-related ED visits was 24,818 cases (Figure 1).
From 2016 to 2022, the most frequently reported diagnosis for methamphetamine-related ED visits was methamphetamine abuse (67%), followed by methamphetamine use (22%), methamphetamine dependence (7%), and methamphetamine poisoning (5%) (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).
From 2015-2024, a total of 58,660 ED visits listed methamphetamine abuse, dependence, use (including maternal use), or poisoning as the principal diagnosis or principal external-cause-of-injury (primary), accounting for about a quarter (25.3%) of all methamphetamine-related ED visits. Primary methamphetamine ED visits decreased 28% from 2018 to 2024. In 2024, the annual total for primary methamphetamine ED visits was 4,869 cases (Figure 3).
Among primary methamphetamine ED visits, abuse remained the most frequently reported diagnosis type (63%), and was again followed by use (16%). However, poisoning accounted for a larger proportion of primary methamphetamine ED visits than of all methamphetamine-related ED visits (13% vs. 5%) (Figure 4).
Overall from 2015-2024, adults aged 26-34 years (31%) and 35-44 years (27%) accounted for the highest proportion of methamphetamine-related ED visits, followed by 45-64 years (24%) and 18-25 years (15%) (Figure 5). While the number of cases among young adults aged 18-25 has steadily dropped by 61% since 2016, cases among adults 35+ has been rapidly increasing from 2022. In 2024, adults aged 35-44 were the largest age group for methamphetamine-related ED visits (Figure 6).
Among primary methamphetamine ED visits, decreases were observed from 2016-2024 for adults under age 35, while the numbers for adults older than 35 remained relatively stable over the past decade (Figures 7-8).
In 2015-2024, over two-thirds (71%) of methamphetamine-related ED visits were among males. The gender gap remained stable over the past decade (Figures 9-10).
The gender disparity was slightly more pronounced for primary methamphetamine ED visits (Figures 11-12).
In 2019-2024, the proportion of methamphetamine-related ED visits was largest for Hispanic/Latinos (50%), followed by Whites (23%) and Blacks (17%) (Figure 13). From 2022 to 2023, methamphetamine-related ED visits increased and remained stable in 2024 for Hispanic/Latinos, Whites, and Blacks (Figure 14).
Primary methamphetamine ED visits decreased for Hispanic/Latinos and Whites from 2016 to 2024 (Figures 15-16).
California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data, 2015-2024. California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Drug Abuse Warning Network: National Estimates From Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits, 2024. Publication No. PEP25-07-005, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data.
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