The western region of the US had the highest rate of methamphetamine-related emergency department (ED) visits compared to other regions
(352 vs. 73-91 per 100,000; SAMHSA, 2024).
The number of methamphetamine ED visits has been increasing and remains high in LAC (HCAI, 2022).
In Los Angeles County (LAC), from 2012 to 2022, there were 216,758 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 increased 128% from 2012 to 2022. By 2022, the annual total for methamphetamine-related ED visits was 20,429 cases (Figure 1).
From 2016 to 2022, the most frequently reported diagnosis for methamphetamine-related ED visits was methamphetamine abuse (68.6%), followed by methamphetamine use (19.9%), 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 57,366 ED visits listed methamphetamine abuse, dependence, use (including maternal use), or poisoning as the principal diagnosis or principal external-cause-of-injury (primary). Primary methamphetamine ED visits increased 103% from 2012 to 2022. By 2022, the annual total for primary methamphetamine ED visits was 4,982 cases (Figure 3).
Among primary methamphetamine ED visits, abuse remained the most frequently reported diagnosis type (66.5%), and was again followed by use (15.5%). However, poisoning accounted for a larger proportion of primary methamphetamine ED visits than of all methamphetamine-related ED visits (13.4% vs. 5.0%) (Figure 4).
Overall, adults aged 26-34 years (31%) and 35-44 years (25%) accounted for the highest proportion of methamphetamine-related ED visits, followed by 45-64 years (22%) and 18-25 years (18%) (Figure 5). The number of cases among adults 26-34 dropped in the last year, and have been dropping among young adults aged 18-25 since 2016, while cases among adults 35+ remained relatively stable since 2018 (Figure 6).
The age distribution patterns were similarly observed for primary methamphetamine cases (Figures 7-8).
In 2012-2022, over two-thirds (70%) of methamphetamine-related ED visits were among males. Since 2012, the gap between genders widened. The number of methamphetamine-related ED visits among males was 2.1 times that of females in 2012, and increased to 2.5 times in 2022 (Figures 9-10).
The gender disparity was more pronounced for primary methamphetamine ED visits. The number of primary methamphetamine ED visits among males was 2.6 times that of females in 2012, and increased to 3.2 times in 2022 (Figures 11-12).
In 2012-2022, the proportion of methamphetamine-related ED visits was largest for Latinxs (49%), followed by whites (27%) and blacks (15%) (Figure 13). From 2012 to 2022, the proportion of all methamphetamine-related ED visits decreased among whites (33% to 22%), but increased among blacks (10% to 17%) (Figure 14).
The race/ethnic distribution patterns were similar for primary methamphetamine ED visits (Figures 15-16).
California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Nonpublic Inpatient Discharge and Emergency Department data, 2012-2022. California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Drug Abuse Warning Network: National Estimates from Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits, 2023. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 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