Methamphetamine abuse, long reported as the dominant drug problem in the San Diego, CA, area, has become a substantial drug problem in other sections of the West and Southwest, as well. There are indications that it is spreading to other areas of the country, including both rural and urban sections of the South and Midwest. Methamphetamine, traditionally associated with white, male, blue-collar workers, is being used by more diverse population groups that change over time and differ by geographic area.

According to the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 8.8 million people (4.0 percent of the population) have tried methamphetamine at some time in their lives. 

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 12.3 million Americans ages 12 and older reported trying methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes, representing 5.2% of the population ages 12 and older. Approximately 1.3 million (0.6%) reported past year methamphetamine use and 607,000 (0.3%) reported past month methamphetamine use.⁴

According to the Monitoring the Future Study, during 2004, 6.2% of high school seniors reported using a methamphetamine within their lifetime. Lifetime use among 8th and 10th graders was 2.5% and 5.3%, respectively. Also during 2004, 4.0% of high school seniors reported using Ice, also known as crystal methamphetamine, within their lifetime.⁵

Nationwide, 7.6% of high school students surveyed in 2003 as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) reported using methamphetamine during their lifetimes. Male students (8.3%) were more likely than female students (6.8%) to report lifetime methamphetamine use. Hispanic (8.3%) and white (8.1%) students were more likely than black (3.1%) students to use methamphetamine within their lifetime.⁷

During 2003, 5.8% of college students and 8.9% of young adults (ages 19-28) reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. Approximately 2.6% of college students and 2.7% of young adults reported past year use of methamphetamine, and 0.6% of college students and 0.7% of young adults reported past month use of methamphetamine.⁸

According to preliminary data from the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program, a median of 4.7% of adult male arrestees and 8.8% of adult female arrestees tested positive for methamphetamine at the time of arrest in 2003. The adult male samples were compiled from 39 U.S. sites and the adult female samples were compiled from 25 sites.⁹

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The prosecutor's office filed 64 drug charges, about twice as many as usual.  Ranked 12 in the state for population, we ranked 6 in th estate for the number of drug cases in December, according to Kathy George of the Seattle Post-Intellegencer Reported. In a recent letter to the community, Sheriff Mahonney stated that 80% of the criminal cases handled by law enforcement personnel involve Meth; either possession, use or manufacturing.

There are many costs to society from the use of methamphetamine.

• Manufacturing -  The cost of manufacturing is realively inexpensive.  Materials are readily available and the junk is easy to synthesize which results in a high profit margin. 
  
•  Medical treatment -  The chemicals used to make meth can be highly toxic which means that the people making it and those in the immediate area, including the kids, can be injured.Since most meth addicts don't have insurance, the cost then falls onto society.
  
• Disposal -  Meth materials are hazardous waste, meaning that they must be disposed of in a controlled manner. This is extremely expensive.  Large scale meth labs are becoming more common, but small in home labs still exist and must be cleaned up when found. About 50% of drug labs are found on rental properties.  Decontamination costs about $6500 for a 1200 sq ft house.
  
• Treatment vs. Incarciration - We must also look at the cost of enforcement versus the cost of treatment. Two landmark studies are cited when comparing the expense of interdiction, enforcement, and prosecution to effective treatment. The RAND Corporation, at the behest of the U.S. Army and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, conducted a study and determined that every dollar spent on treatment resulted in a $7.46 reduction in lost productivity and crime-related spending. Another California study frequently cited in the substance-abuse literature found that taxpayers saved $7.00 for every dollar spent on treatment. These estimates do not include the costs of providing medical care. Furthermore, the cost of incarceration ranges from $16,000 to $37,00 across the U.S. and averages $18,330 based on 1996 figures. The cost to build a prison cell is between $80,000 to $90,000. Contrastingly, residential substance abuse treatment programs cost an average of $14,600 per year and outpatient programs cost about $2,300 on average, nationwide. In Cowlitz County, the cost of incarceratin is $61.08 per day.This drug also contributes to domestic violance, child abuse, auto accidents, theft, identy theft and spread of infectionus diseases.  Treatment costs could include Detox, Inpatient services, Outpatient services, periodic drug testing and help with transitioning into employment.
  
• Welfare of children from addicted mothers -  These kids usually suffer from neglect or have had exposure to the meth.  Kids are taken out of meth homes and are place in protective custody and then into the foster care system.  That is only the financial cost.  What about the cost to the child's image of self, and their ability to function in school and in society?