Treatment
Methamphetamine can be highly addictive in both short and long-term use due to the fast effects they produce in the brain.
There are currently no FDA-approved medications available to treat methamphetamine use disorder; however, various forms of psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, drug counseling, and relapse prevention) have been shown to be effective in reducing its use and its commonly associated psychiatric symptoms (Stuart 2019).
Meth Treatment Admissions in LAC
Across all publicly funded substance use disorder (SUD) programs in LAC from fiscal year in FY2223, 9,684 patients accounted for 15,791 SUD treatment admissions for a primary methamphetamine problem.
The number of patients and treatment admissions for methamphetamine has been increasing since FY1314 (with a dip in FY2021). The proportion of all patients and treatment admissions with a primary methamphetamine problem increased from FY1314-FY1819, and then remained relatively stable at about 30% (Figures 1-2).
Demographics of Meth Treatment Admissions
From FY1314 to FY2223, patients aged 26-34 years (40%) accounted for the largest proportion of primary methamphetamine admissions followed by patients aged 35-44 years (27%), and was lowest among youth and elderly patients (Figure 3).
Patients aged 26-34 years consistently accounted for the largest proportion of methamphetamine admissions from FY1314 to FY2223 (Figure 4).
From FY1314-FY2223, over half (55%) of primary methamphetamine admissions were among male patients (Figure 5). The gender disparity has been widening since FY1718 (Figure 6).
Latinxs accounted for nearly two-thirds (64%) of all primary methamphetamine admissions, followed by Whites (21%), with a small proportion among Black/African Americans (11%) and other groups (Figure 7).
The number of methamphetamine admissions among Latinxs and Black/African Americans steadily increased each year from FY1314 to FY2223 (Figure 8).
Route of Administration
The manner in how methamphetamine is used is important in its abuse risk potential. Each route of administration provides a different level of euphoric response, with some heightening blood stimulant levels at a faster rate and thus providing a “high” feeling instantly. Smoking and inhalation are known as the most popular methods of using methamphetamine, as their effects are experienced quickly and result in “highs” similar to that by injection and are viewed by users as a safer option than injection which is associated with more negative health outcomes (Rawson, 1999).
In LAC, from FY1314-FY2223, smoking was the most frequently reported route of administration (77%), followed by inhalation (11%), and injection (9%) among primary methamphetamine patients (Figure 9). This pattern remained similar over the past decade (Figure 10).
References
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 33.) Chapter 5—Medical Aspects of Stimulant Use Disorders. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64323/.
Los Angeles County Participant Reporting System (LACPRS). Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Stuart, A. M., Baker, A. L., Denham, A. M. J., Lee, N. K., Hall, A., Oldmeadow, C., Dunlop, A., Bowman, J., & McCarter, K. (2020). Psychological treatment for methamphetamine use and associated psychiatric symptom outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 109, 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2019.09.005
