Methamphetamine prevalence

For years, Thailand used to have the world s highest methamphetamine prevalence figures, but this changed following the market crack-down in 2003. Based on survey results in 2005, the highest prevalence rates worldwide are now found in the Philippines. This prompted the authorities in 2005 and 2006 to take... 

Authorities of Indonesia reported some decline of methamphetamine abuse to UNODC in their replies to the Annual Reports Questionnaire. This was in line with the results of the first national survey15 conducted in Indonesia in 2005, which revealed a methamphetamine prevalence rate of 0.2 per cent among the population aged 15-64, which was lower than previous estimates had suggested. 

According to the estimates performed, cocaine is the most consumed drug, followed by cannabis, amphetamine, heroin, MDMA, and methamphetamine. On the contrary, official national annual prevalence data points out cannabis as the most abused illicit drug, followed by cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, and heroin. This suggests that the drug consumption pattern in the studied areas of the Ebro River... 

In the past, methamphetamine use and abuse in the United States was most prevalent in individuals who needed to remain awake and alert due to the nature of their occupations— long-haul truckers, for example—and in some fringe members of society. Today, however, it is predominantly used by white males in their 20s and 30s and is becoming more popular with teenagers at dance clubs and raves. For these reasons, methamphetamine can be considered a club drug. Methamphetamine use is also increasing among homeless people, prostitutes, and runaway youths. 

McKetin R, McLaren J, Lubman DI Hides L (2006). The prevalence of psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine users. Addiction, 101, 1473-8... 

The downward trend among US students started around 1997 and became more pronounced after 2002. While the annual prevalence of amphetamines use (covering both methamphetamine and amphetamine use) among high school students declined over the 1997-2006 period by a third, the decline between 2002 and 2006 amounted to almost 30 per cent. Lower levels of use went hand in hand with reports of lower availability and a higher risk perception linked to the use of such substances. 

Fig. 131 Annual prevalence of methamphetamine use among high school students in the USA and in Ontario (Canada), 1999-2006...

Fig. 132 Annual prevalence of stimulants/ methamphetamine use in the USA among the population age 12 and above...

In 2005, a continued decline in methamphetamine abuse (methamphetamine pills or yaba ) was reported by Thailand. This followed a forceful intervention by the Thai authorities in the market in 2003, which resulted in a decline in methamphetamine abuse, but unfortunately also in a significant number of casualties. The 2001 household survey showed that Thailand had a prevalence rate of 2.4 per cent of the population aged 12-65 and thus the world s most serious methamphetamine problem at the time, despite also having reported the world s largest ATS seizures for many years. In 2003, a subsequent household survey found far lower prevalence rates (0.2 per cent)8. However, these data may have been influenced by police operations, resulting in a likely underestimate as respondents were influenced by... 

This could be seen by a massive decline in reported life-time prevalence rates of methamphetamine use, from 7.8 per cent in 2001 to 2.4 per cent in 2003, which is not likely to reflect the reality as many people were afraid to admit that they were methamphetamine users at the time. 

In the Philippines, the latest national household surveys conducted between September 2004 and January 2005, of 12,000 people between ages of 10 and 44, are still being reviewed by the authorities and their results have yet to be officially released. However, preliminary results have been made available11 to UNODC and would indicate that the Philippines could be facing an annual prevalence rate of methamphetamine use of... 

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