How do Pulse Check sources
perceive the methamphetamine
problem in their communities,
and have their perceptions
changed? Only three sources in
two cities (both western) consider
methamphetamine the most widely
used drug in their communities: the
law enforcement source in Billings and the epidemiologic and nonmethadone
sources in Honolulu.
Additionally, nine sources in five
cities (all western) consider methamphetamine
the second most widely
used drug: in Billings (the epidemiologic
and non-methadone treatment
sources), Denver (the non-methadone
treatment source), Honolulu (the law
enforcement source), Los Angeles (the
non-methadone treatment source), and Sioux Falls (the law enforcement,
epidemiologic, and methadone and
non-methadone treatment sources).
Since the last Pulse Check reporting
period, no changes were reported in
the perceptions of methamphetamine
as the most or second most widely
abused drug.
More sources report methamphetamine
as contributing to the most
serious consequences in their communities
than report methamphetamine as
the most widely used drug. Thirteen
sources in four cities (Billings, Denver,
Honolulu, and Sioux Falls) report
methamphetamine as contributing to
the most serious consequences. The
Memphis law enforcement source is
the only one to report methamphetamine
as the drug contributing to the
second most serious consequences.
Again, since the last Pulse Check, no
changes were reported in the perceptions
of methamphetamine as the drug
of abuse contributing to the most or
second most serious consequences.
METHAMPHETAMINE: THE DRUG
How available is methamphetamine
across the country?
(Exhibit 1) Nearly two-thirds (25 of
42) of law enforcement, epidemiologic,
and ethnographic sources report
methamphetamine as somewhat or
widely available in their communities,
and availability varies widely by
region. In the West, it considered
widely available by nearly every
respondent (in Billings, Denver, Los
Angeles, Honolulu, and Seattle); in
the Midwest, it ranges from not very
available (in Chicago) to widely available;
in the South, it ranges from not
very to widely available; and in the
Northeast, it is not very or not available,
according to nearly every
respondent.
Exhibit 1.
How available is methamphetamine across the 21 Pulse Check cities?
According to law enforcement sources... (N=21)
According to epidemiologists and ethnographers... (N=19)*
*The epidemiologic and ethnographic sources in Columbia and El Paso did not provide this
information.
Has methamphetamine availability
changed? (Exhibit 2) Since
the last reporting period, methamphetamine
availability increased or
remained stable according to all law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents, with the
exception of the law enforcement
source in Philadelphia and the epidemiologic
source in Boston, who
report availability declines. Similar to
the last Pulse Check, most increases
occurred in the South, Midwest, and
West, although the percentage of
western sources reporting increases
this reporting period is lower than
the percentage reporting increases
last period (50 versus 86 percent).
What type of methamphetamine
is available? Locally
produced methamphetamine is
slightly more available than
methamphetamine produced in
Mexico, according to law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents. "Ice,"
nearly 100 percent pure methamphetamine,
is not very available in
most cities, except in Honolulu,
where it is widely available according
to both the law enforcement and
epidemiologic sources.
According to most law enforcement,
epidemiologic, and ethnographic
sources (in Billings, Columbia [SC],
Denver, El Paso, Memphis, Portland
[ME], St. Louis, and Sioux Falls) most
available methamphetamine is produced
in "box labs," small, mobile,
clandestine labs often located in rural
areas. Additionally, methamphetamine
labs run by large operations in Mexico
and California produce some of the
methamphetamine available in Denver,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,
Seattle, and Washington, DC.
Exhibit 2.
How has methamphetamine
availability changed
(fall 2000 vs spring 2001)?*
L Law enforcement respondents
E Epidemiologic/ethnographic respondents
*The Baltimore, Columbia (SC), El Paso,
Memphis, New Orleans, and Portland (ME)
epidemiologic/ethnographic sources did not
provide this information.
The manufacturing processes used to
produce methamphetamine differ by
region. In the Midwest, the "Nazi
method" (involving ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine, lithium, and anhydrous
ammonia) is most often used. In
the South and West, both the "coldcooking
method" (involving ephedrine,
red phosphorus, and iodine crystals)
and the Nazi method are used. In
Philadelphia, the "P2P (phenyl-2-propanone) method" (producing a lower purity methamphetamine) is
most often used. According to the law
enforcement source in Seattle, locally
produced methamphetamine is purer
than methamphetamine produced in
Mexico.
Since the last reporting period,
methamphetamine labs have increased
in several Pulse Check cities, including
Detroit, Memphis, Portland (ME), St.
Louis, and Sioux Falls. Local box labs
or local clandestine labs have
increased in Denver, Los Angeles,
Memphis, Portland (ME), Sioux Falls,
and Seattle. The Portland law
enforcement source states that an
increasing number of people,
typically from the Southwest, are
beginning to create methamphetamine
labs in that city.
The Denver law enforcement
source reports that methamphetamine
produced by the
Nazi method is increasing. The
Seattle law enforcement source
states that although the number
of local box labs has increased, law
enforcement officials focus their
efforts on the large labs. The
Memphis law enforcement source
states that more amphetamine is
being produced than methamphetamine,
and the Denver epidemiologist
reports that dietary supplements are
often used in the methamphetamine
production process.
What are methamphetamine
prices and purity levels across
the country? (Exhibit 3) Reported
gram prices (the most common unit
of methamphetamine sold) vary
widely: $100 in the Northeast
(Boston and Philadelphia reporting),
$80$175 in the South, $330 in
Chicago, and $20$300 in the West.
Between fall 2000 and spring 2001,
prices remained relatively stable,
except in Memphis, where prices
declined slightly according to the law
enforcement source, and in Chicago,
where prices increased according to
the law enforcement source.
Methamphetamine purity levels,
reported by only seven sources, vary
widely, ranging from 1535 percent
in Los Angeles to 9095 percent in
Memphis. Since the last reporting
period, purity levels changed in
several cities: according to the law
enforcement source in Denver and
Los Angeles, purity increased,
possibly because high-purity methamphetamine
produced in local labs by
the Nazi method has replaced lower
purity methamphetamine produced in
Mexico. Similarly, the law enforcement
source in Seattle states that the
purity of methamphetamine produced
in Mexico decreased because it has
been diluted with methylsulfonyl
methane (MSM) and that locally produced methamphetamine is often
of higher purity.
Exhibit 3.
How much does methamphetamine cost in 16 Pulse Check cities?
|
City |
Gram price |
Ounce price |
Purity (%) |
 |
Boston, MA |
$100 |
NR |
NR |
| Philadelphia, PA |
$100 |
NR |
<25 |
|---|
| Portland, ME |
NR |
$1,400 |
40 |
|---|
 |
Birmingham,
AL |
$120 | $1,800 | NR |
| Columbia, SC |
$175 | NR | NR |
|---|
| Memphis, TN |
$90$110 | NR |
90-95 |
|---|
| Miami, FL | $80$100 | NR | NR |
|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $100$150 | NR | NR |
|---|
| Washington, DC | $140 | NR | NR |
|---|
 |
Chicago,
IL |
$330 | NR | NR |
|---|
| Detroit, MI | NR | $500$2,000 | 2025 |
|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | NR | $800$1,000 | NR |
|---|
 |
Denver, CO | $80$125 | NR | 2090 |
| Honolulu, HI | $200$300 | NR | NR |
|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $80$100 | NR | 1535 |
|---|
| Seattle, WA | $20$60 | $350$650 | 7595 |
|---|
Sources: Law enforcement, epidemiologic, and ethnographic respondents
How is methamphetamine
referred to across the country?
(Exhibit 4) Across the country,
methamphetamine is often referred to
as "meth," "speed," "crank," and
"crystal." Other slang terms vary by
region and tend to be based on the
color or consistency of the available
methamphetamine, such as "clear,"
"glass," "yellow girl," and "cinnamon."
Often terms are based on
production methods: "bathtub meth"
refers to methamphetamine
manufactured in bathtubs, and
"Christmas tree meth" refers to
green methamphetamine produced
using Dranoฎ crystals.
Exhibit 4.
How is methamphetamine referred to in different regions of the country?
Sources: Law enforcement, epidemiologic, ethnographic, and treatment respondents
How is methamphetamine
packaged? According to law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents, methamphetamine
is most commonly packaged
in plastic sandwich or zipper
bags, as reported in the last Pulse
Check. Additional types of packaging
vary widely: it is packaged in folded
paper in Detroit, El Paso, Los
Angeles, and Memphis; small coin
zipper bags in El Paso, Honolulu, and
Washington, DC; tied-off corners of
plastic bags in St. Louis and Sioux
Falls; cellophane or plastic wrap with
duct tape in Denver and Los Angeles;
vials in Miami and Seattle; and balloons
in Denver. It is sold loose in
rock form, like crack, in Birmingham,
St. Louis, and Seattle. Few sources
in the Northeast responded to this
question, in keeping with the lower
availability in that region; the widest
variety of packaging was reported in
the West, corresponding to the wider
availability in that region.
METHAMPHETAMINE:
THE SELLERS
How are street-level methamphetamine
sellers organized? According to law enforcement,
epidemiologic, and ethnographic
respondents, methamphetamine sellers
are predominantly independent in
the Midwest, mostly independent in
the Northeast (except in Philadelphia,
where biker and organized crime
groups are the predominant sellers),
and both independent and organized
in the South and West. According to
the epidemiologist in St. Louis, the
affiliation of methamphetamine distributors
depends on the source:
independent sellers distribute locally
produced methamphetamine, and
organized sellers distribute Mexican
methamphetamine. In Honolulu, sellers are fairly independent with
two to three "runners," and some are
affiliated with Mexican nationals.
How is street-level methamphetamine
sold? According to law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents, methamphetamine
is sold using a variety of
methods. The most common are
hand-to-hand sales through acquaintance
networks. Many sales also
involve beeper or cell phone technology
(as reported in 12 cities), and in
7 cities (Billings, Birmingham,
Denver, Honolulu, Memphis,
Philadelphia, and St. Louis), delivery type
services are used.
How old are street-level
methamphetamine sellers? Law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents across the
Nation report methamphetamine
sellers as predominantly young adults
(1830 years), with a few exceptions:
according to four sources (the law
enforcement sources in Los Angeles,
Memphis, and Sioux Falls, and the
epidemiologic source in St. Louis),
sellers are evenly split between young
adults and adults (>30 years), and
according six sources (the law
enforcement sources in Baltimore,
Columbia [SC], Philadelphia, Portland
[ME], and St. Louis, and the Billings
epidemiologic source), they are
mostly adults.
What other drugs do street-level
methamphetamine sellers sell? Similar to reports in the last Pulse
Check, most (13 of 22) law
enforcement, epidemiologic, and
ethnographic respondents agree that
methamphetamine sellers do not
typically sell other drugs, but all
respondents in the West (5 of 5)
report that methamphetamine sellers do sell other drugs, namely heroin,
crack and powder cocaine, and
marijuana. Additionally, methamphetamine
sellers often sell cocaine or
ecstasy in Memphis, ecstasy in Miami,
and powder cocaine and club drugs
(including ecstasy, GHB, and ketamine)
in Washington, DC.
Do street-level methamphetamine
sellers use their own drug? Most law enforcement, epidemiologic,
and ethnographic respondents (15
of 23) report that street-level
methamphetamine sellers are very
likely to use the drug, as reported in
the last Pulse Check. Reported levels
of likeliness to use the drug are highest
among western sources. According
to the St. Louis epidemiologist, independent
sellers are very likely to use
the drug, but organized sellers are not
very likely to use the drug.
Are street-level methamphetamine
sellers involved in other
crimes? (Exhibit 5) According to
most law enforcement, epidemiologic,
and ethnographic respondents,
methamphetamine sellers continue to
be somewhat involved or very likely
to be involved in other crimes, most
commonly domestic violence, nonviolent
crimes, and other violent crimes.
Furthermore, methamphetamine sellers
who are organized are reported as
more likely to be involved in other
crimes than those who are independent.
Methamphetamine sellers seem
particularly involved in domestic violence:
according to 34 law enforcement
and epidemiologic respondents,
methamphetamine sellers account for
44 percent of the domestic violence
among drug sellers, compared with
only 24 percent for crack cocaine
sellers, 20 percent for powder cocaine
sellers, and 9 percent for heroin sellers.
Exhibit 5.
In what other crimes are illicit drug sellers involved, by different drugs,
across Pulse Check sites?
Sources: Law enforcement, epidemiologic, and ethnographic respondents
Where is methamphetamine
sold? (Exhibit 6) The geographic
location of methamphetamine sales
varies widely by region. In the West,
except for Honolulu (where sales
occur in the central city), respondents
agree that sales occur in all areas of
the city: suburban, rural, and central.
In the Midwest, respondents cite
mostly rural areas for methamphetamine
sales, except in Chicago, where
suburbs are mentioned. In the
Northeast, rural areas are mentioned
by the law enforcement sources in
Boston and Portland (ME), and all
areas are mentioned in Philadelphia.
Epidemiologists in the Northeast did
not respond to this question. In the
South, sales settings vary: all areas are
mentioned in Birmingham; suburbs
are mentioned in Columbia (SC) and El Paso; the central city is mentioned
in Memphis and Washington, DC;
and suburbs and the Miami Beach
area are mentioned in Miami.
All law enforcement, epidemiologic,
and ethnographic respondents in the
West report that outdoor and indoor
sales are equally common. In the
other three regions, indoors sales are
generally more common than outdoors
sales, but several respondents
(in Birmingham, Memphis, Philadelphia,
Sioux Falls, and Washington,
DC) report that outdoor and indoor
sales are equally common. The most
frequently mentioned specific sales
settings, according to law enforcement,
epidemiologic, and ethnographic
respondents, continue to be
private residences, followed by
nightclubs and bars, private parties,
and inside cars.
Sources: Law enforcement, epidemiologic, and ethnographic respondents
*For sales settings law enforcement, epidemiologic, and ethnographic sources responded, except for the following: the law enforcement sources in
Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, and New York, and the epidemiologic sources in Baltimore, Billings, Birmingham, Boston, Columbia (SC), El
Paso, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), and Seattle. For users settings, epidemiologic and ethnographic
sources responded, except for the sources in Baltimore, Birmingham, Columbia (SC), New Orleans, New York, and Portland (ME).
METHAMPHETAMINE: THE USERS
How have novice methamphetamine
treatment clients changed
between fall 2000 and spring
2001? Most (9 of 15) nonmethadone
treatment respondents
report that the number of novice
methamphetamine users in treatment
(defined as any drug treatment client
who has recently begun using
methamphetamine) is stable, with a
few exceptions: novice users
increased in Billings, Denver, El Paso,
and Sioux Falls; they declined in
Portland (ME) and among adolescents
in Honolulu. Methadone treatment
sources did not provide information
on methamphetamine users or
methamphetamine treatment clients.
How old are methamphetamine
users? (Exhibit 7) As reported in the
last Pulse Check, the predominant age
of methamphetamine users varies by city, according to 15 epidemiologic
and ethnographic sources, with most
(8) reporting young adults (1830
years) as the predominant users (in
Chicago, El Paso, Los Angeles,
Memphis, Miami, St. Louis, Sioux
Falls, and Seattle). Additionally, four
respondents (in Billings, Denver,
Philadelphia, and Washington, DC)
cite adults (>30 years) as the predominant
methamphetamine users,
two (in Birmingham and Detroit) cite
both young adults and adults, and the
Honolulu source cites adolescents and
young adults. Based on regions, no
patterns in the age of methamphetamine
users emerged. Most (8 of 12)
non-methadone treatment providers
concur that methamphetamine users
are predominantly young adults.
Then and Now:
How have methamphetamine user characteristics changed (fall 2000 vs
spring 2001)?
According to epidemiologic and ethnographic sources, methamphetamine user
characteristics have changed in several areas: |
- Billings, Detroit, and Washington, DC: Although adults (>30 years) are the
predominant users, young adults (1830 years) are cited as emerging user groups.
- Sioux Falls: Pre-adolescents (<13 years) are cited as an emerging user group.
- Detroit and Honolulu: Most methamphetamine users are male, but female
methamphetamine users have increased.
- Los Angeles: Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders are increasingly using
methamphetamine.
- Washington, DC: Hispanics are cited as an emerging methamphetamine user
group.
- Los Angeles and Honolulu: Methamphetamine users who reside in suburban
areas have increased.
- St. Louis: Methamphetamine users who reside in central city and suburban areas
are emerging groups.
- Honolulu, El Paso, and St. Louis: Injecting as a route of methamphetamine
administration is increasing.
|
Are there any gender differences
in who uses methamphetamine?
According to most (11 of 15)
epidemiologic and ethnographic
respondents, methamphetamine users
are predominantly male, as reported
in the last Pulse Check. Only three
sources (in Billings, Los Angeles, and
Sioux Falls) report methamphetamine
users as split evenly between genders,
and only in El Paso are methamphetamine
users primarily females. By contrast,
most (8 of 12) non-methadone
treatment respondents report that
males and females are equally likely
to use methamphetamine; the remaining
sources report that users tend to
be males.
Exhibit 7.
What age group is most likely to use methamphetamine?*
| |
Adolescents
(1318) |
Young
Adults (1830) |
Adults
(>30) |
|
|
Philadelphia,
PAE,N |
Philadelphia,
PAN |
| Portland,
MEN |
|
|
Columbia,
SCN |
Birmingham,
ALE,N |
Birmingham,
ALE |
| El Paso,
TXE,N |
Washington,
DCE |
| Memphis,
TNE |
|
| Miami, FLE |
|
|
Chicago,
ILE |
Sioux
Falls, SDN |
Detroit,
MIE |
| Detroit,
MIE |
|
| St. Louis,
MOE,N |
|
| Sioux Falls,
SDE,N |
|
|
Honolulu,
HIE |
Billings,
MTN |
Billings,
MTE |
| Los Angeles,
CAN |
Denver, CON |
| Honolulu,
HIE,N |
|
| Los Angeles,
CAE,N |
|
| Seattle,
WAE,N |
|
E Epidemiologic/ethnographic respondents N Non-methadone treatment respondents
*Notes: Epidemiologic sources did not respond in Baltimore, Columbia (SC), New Orleans, and
Portland (ME); non-methadone treatment sources did not respond in Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and
Washington, DC. If respondents cited methamphetamine users as evenly split between two age
groups, that respondent is listed under both age groups. Two non-methadone treatment sources
from Sioux Falls responded.
Is any racial/ethnic or socioeconomic
group more likely to use
methamphetamine? As reported in
the last Pulse Check, methamphetamine
users tend to be Whites and
overrepresented compared with the
general population, according to
nearly all (17 of 19) epidemiologic and
ethnographic sources. In Billings, they
are split evenly between Whites and
Native Americans, and in Honolulu,
they are be split evenly between
Whites and Asian/Pacific Islanders.
Most non-methadone treatment
respondents agree with their epidemiologic
and ethnographic counterparts.
Methamphetamine users continue to
be of low or middle SES, with 7 of 16
epidemiologic and ethnographic
sources reporting them as having low
SES backgrounds and 9 reporting
them as being middle SES. All (12)
non-methadone treatment respondents
concur with epidemiologic
sources that users tend to be of low
or middle SES.
Where do methamphetamine
users tend to reside? Depending
on the region, the residences of
methamphetamine users vary widely.
According to epidemiologic and
ethnographic sources, most methamphetamine
users reside in suburban and rural areas in the Midwest; in
central city areas in the Northeast;
and in rural areas, suburbs, and
central city areas in the South and
West. Most non-methadone treatment
respondents agree with their
epidemiologic counterparts.
| How do methamphetamine users
wind up in treatment?
Courts and the criminal justice system
are the most common referral sources
for clients entering treatment for methamphetamine
addiction, according to
non-methadone treatment respondents.
Individual referrals follow closely as the
second most common referral source. |
How do most methamphetamine
users take the drug? Route of
administration for methamphetamine
varies widely, according to epidemiologic
and ethnographic sources. Most
(3 of 4) responding sources in the
West (in Denver, Los Angeles, and
Honolulu) report smoking as the predominant
route of administration, but
the Seattle epidemiologic source
reports oral ingestion as the predominant
route. Snorting predominates in
three non-western areas (Chicago,
Memphis, and Washington, DC), oral
ingestion predominates in Miami, and
smoking is most common in Sioux
Falls and New York. In Philadelphia
and Birmingham, snorting and
injection are mentioned, in El Paso
injection and oral ingestion are mentioned,
and in Detroit, snorting and
oral ingestion are mentioned. According to the Los Angeles and
St. Louis epidemiologic sources,
methamphetamine users often switch
routes of administration. Most nonmethadone
treatment respondents agree with their epidemiologic counterparts
about predominant route of administration.
What other drugs do methamphetamine
users take? Methamphetamine users take a
variety of other drugs, according to
epidemiologic and ethnographic
respondents, and as reported in the last Pulse Check. The most common drugs used in combination with methamphetamine are marijuana (in Birmingham, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Philadelphia, and St. Louis)
and ecstasy (in Miami and Washington,
DC). Non-methadone treatment sources agree that marijuana is often
used in combination with methamphetamine,
as reported in Billings, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,
St. Louis, and Sioux Falls.
Where and with whom do
methamphetamine users take
the drug? (Exhibit 6) According to
nearly all (17 of 27) epidemiologic,
ethnographic, and non-methadone
treatment respondents, methamphetamine
is generally used indoors and in
private. Methamphetamine use is
most often a group activity, according
to the vast majority (21 of 27) of
those respondents. Additionally, the
Detroit and Seattle epidemiologic
sources and the Philadelphia and
Honolulu non-methadone treatment
sources report that most methamphetamine
users take the drug both
alone and in groups; the Miami and
Los Angeles epidemiologic sources
report that most use the drug alone.
The most frequently mentioned user
settings, according to epidemiologic
and ethnographic respondents are
private residences, followed by
private parties and nightclubs. Other
common use settings include inside
cars and raves and concerts, similar to
those reported as sales settings.
Moreover, respondents in the South
and West report more user settings
than those in other regions. Nonmethadone
treatment respondents
also report private residences as the
most common setting for methamphetamine
use, followed by private
parties, inside cars, and parks and
playgrounds.
