Methamphetamine Abuse in Alaska

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DEA Assessment:

Drug trafficking organizations obtain the majority of methamphetamine for sale in Alaska from sources in the lower 48 states. Southeast Asian methamphetamine tablets known as "yaba," reportedly manufactured in Burma and Laos, are becoming available in Alaska.¹

Methamphetamine Use among State Population (2002-2005):

10% of persons aged 12 or older reported using meth one or more times during their life.²
2.3% of young adults aged 18-25 reported past year methamphetamine use.
0.6% of persons aged 12 or older reported past year methamphetamine use.³

Methamphetamine Use among High School Students (2003):

5.9% of students reported using methamphetamine one or more times during their life.⁴

Drug Offenses:

23% of 2005 Federal Drug Cases in Alaska involved methamphetamine.⁵

Lab Incidents:

There were 5 lab incidents in 2006.⁶

Treatment Admissions for Methamphetamine Abuse:

70 treatment admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 2004;
1.7% of all drug abuse treatment admissions.⁷

State Laws Pertaining to Precursor Chemicals:

No person may purchase or posses more than 6 gm of pseudo ephedrine or ephedrine per 30 days; Sales to persons under 16 years old are prohibited; A seller, retailer, or vendor shall maintain the logbook for the period required under the federal Combat Meth Act Law and shall allow law enforcement officers access to the log book; Each seller, retailer, or vendor shall provide training to the seller's, retailer's, or vendor's employees and agents on the requirements of the law. ⁸

The Alaska Meth Education Project
Alaska State Troopers Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement 2004 Annual Drug Report
ALASKA METH EDUCATION PROJECT SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT OF PROVIDERS NOVEMBER 2006
Indianz.com
Young filmmaker raises awareness of Valley meth use
JuneauEmpire.com Troopers dub Mat-Su area meth capital of Alaska
NDIC - Connecticut Drug Threat Assessment Update July 2003
New Anti-Meth Campaign for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Tribal Waste Journal - Methamphetamine: Threatening the Health and Environment of Tribal Communities

1 2006 DEA State Fact Sheets. Available: http://www.dea.gov/pubs/state_factsheets.html
2 Prevalence Estimates 2002-2004. NSDUH. Office of Applied Studies SAMHSA. Available: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/statesIndex.htm#2k4
3 Prevalence Estimates for 2002-2005. NSDUH. Office of Applied Studies. SAMHSA. Available: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k6/stateMeth/stateMeth.htm
4 YRBSS. CDC. Available: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/
5 Federal Sentencing Stats. U.S. Sentencing Commission. Available: http://www.ussc.gov/JUDPACK/JP2005.htm
6 Maps of Methamphetamine Lab Incidents. DEA. Available: http://www.dea.gov/concern/map_lab_seizures.html
7 TEDS. Drug and Alcohol Services Information System. SAMHSA. Available: http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/newmapv1.htm
8 Methamphetamine Precursor Laws National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Available: http://www.nacds.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=3814