Methamphetamine Abuse in Texas

DEA Assessment:

  • Availability of methamphetamine remains high in north Texas.
  • In Houston, crystallized Methamphetamine (ICE) is being sold in local clubs and is also being offered by Mexican traffickers. Domestically produced methamphetamine continues to be manufactured by motorcycle gangs and independent producers.1

Methamphetamine Use among State Population (2002-2005):

4.8% of persons aged 12 or older reported using meth one or more times during their life.2
1.8% 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 (2005):

7.3% of students reported using methamphetamine one or more times during their life.4

Drug Offenses:

13% of 2005 Federal Drug Cases in Texas involved methamphetamine.5

Lab Incidents:

There were 89 lab incidents in 2006.6

Treatment Admissions for Methamphetamine Abuse:

5,755 treatment admissions for methamphetamine/amphetamine abuse in 2005;
14% of all drug abuse treatment admissions.7

State Laws Pertaining to Precursor Chemicals:

Sales to persons under 16 years old prohibited; Purchaser must display driver's license or other form of photo ID indicating that purchaser is over 16 years old; Purchaser must sign for the purchase, and seller to make record of sale that includes purchaser name, purchase date, and product name for the item and the number of grams purchased; Pharmacies must maintain all products (except exempted liquid, liquid capsule or gel capsule products) behind pharmacy counter or in a locked case within 30 feet and in direct line of sight from a pharmacy counter staffed by an employee of the establishment.8

Meth Alert: Texas Teens at Risk, site with sections on What is meth? Warning signs, Helpful links, Get help now, and video footage about the meth problem in Texas. http://www.texasmethalert.org/default.htm

State Legislative Update (2005) re: Methamphetamine Bills from Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
http://www.gdcada.org/stories/print/methtexas.pdf

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