In 2023, an estimated 78,000 people aged 12+ in the US used methamphetamine for the first time in their lives. This accounted for 3% of past year methamphetamine users (NSDUH 2023).
In 2022, among people who have ever used methamphetamine in LAC, the most frequently reported place of first use of methamphetamine was a friend’s home (30.4%), followed by their home (19.9%), a public place (15.6%), at work/school (12.2%), at a party/kick-back (8.7%), and other places (Figure 1).
In 2022 in LAC, nearly half of methamphetamine users reported that their typical setting of methamphetamine use was with friends (48.6%), and 40.7% reported that they typically used methamphetamine alone (Figure 2).
Among ever users, the most frequently reported place of last use of methamphetamine was at their home (34.0%), followed by a friend’s home (23.8%), a public place (19.6%), a party/kick-back (7.2%), and other places (Figure 3).
In 2022, among methamphetamine users in LAC, the most frequently reported reasons for using methamphetamine were for the feelings it produces (for fun – 47.5%, enhanced mood/euphoria – 44.2%, enhanced sexual experience – 30.3%).
Many methamphetamine users also reported using methamphetamine for productivity reasons (increased energy or to stay awake – 41.6%, to get more done – 34.5%, to feel in control or focused – 26.3%) (Figure 4).
In LAC in 2022, 41.1% believed that it would be somewhat or very easy (easy) for someone to get methamphetamine on the street around their neighborhood. Ever users of methamphetamine were more likely to believe it would be easy for someone to get methamphetamine on the street around their neighborhood compared to never users (69.3% vs. 38.6%) (Figure 5).
Among ever users of methamphetamine, the most common reported sources of methamphetamine for their last use was a friend (46.7%) or a dealer (31.9%) (Figure 6).
In LAC in 2022, of those who ever used methamphetamine, nearly three-quarters had smoked it (74.8%), and nearly two-thirds had snorted it (65.4%). About one-fifth had used methamphetamine by orally ingesting it (20.5%, by pill) or injecting it (20.2%) (Figure 7).
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2024). Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed tables. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables
Methamphetamine Use and Public Perceptions in Los Angeles County: Findings from the 2022 Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Health Outcomes and Data Analytics, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, April 2024. Retrieved from http://ph.lacounty.gov/sapc/MDU/SpecialReport/Methamphetamine-Use-and-Public-Perceptions-in-Los-Angeles-County.pdf on 4/9/2024.