Methamphetamine Abuse in Nevada

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DEA Assessment:

• Meth is the most frequently encountered drug in Nevada and remains available in both personal use and distribution quantities.
• Nevada is both a point of importation and a transshipment location for methamphetamine. The manufacture of methamphetamine in Nevada occurs on a limited basis. The meth imported into the state is produced primarily in "super labs" (producing 10 pounds or more in a 24-hour period) by ethnic Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating in Mexico and California.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
3.8% of young adults aged 18-25 reported past year methamphetamine use.
2% of persons aged 12 or older reported past year methamphetamine use.³

Methamphetamine Use among High School Students (2005):

11.7% of students reported using methamphetamine one or more times during their life.⁴

Drug Offenses:

60% of 2005 Federal Drug Cases in Nevada involved methamphetamine.⁵

Lab Incidents:

There were 30 lab incidents in 2006.⁶

Treatment Admissions for Methamphetamine Abuse:

3,328 treatment admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 2005;
35% of all drug abuse treatment admissions.⁷

State Laws Pertaining to Precursor Chemicals:

All pseudophedrine (PSE), ephedrine (EPH), and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) products are classified as Schedule III drugs; Over the Counter PSE, EPH, and PPA products subject to federal sales limits, sales restrictions, recordkeeping requirements, and product placement.⁸

Governor's 2007 Strategic Approach to Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Nevada

1 2006 DEA State Fact Sheets. Available: http://www.dea.gov/pubs/state_factsheets.html
2 Prevalence Estimates for 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.html
8 Methamphetamine Precursor Laws. National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Available: http://www.nacds.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=3814