Methamphetamine in Alaska

Meth Situation and Prevalence

There are two types of methamphetamine in Alaska -- methamphetamine that is produced locally in clandestine methamphetamine laboratories and methamphetamine that is imported into the state. Legislation aimed at keeping precursor chemicals from being so easily attained presumably has been a factor in causing a decrease in the number of clandestine laboratory-related incidents in the state. Methamphetamine continues to be available as it is often sent through the parcel service. Drug trafficking organizations obtain the majority of methamphetamine for sale in Alaska from sources in the lower 48 states. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Alaska State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.94% of persons aged 12 or older in Alaska reported using methamphetamine within the past year. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007)

Results of a 2007 survey of Alaska students show that approximately 2.4% of 9th graders, 6.1% of 10th graders, 6.5% of 11th graders, and 3.2% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lives. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2008)

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, preliminary data show that there was 1 child affected by, 0 children injured at, and 0 children killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Alaska during 2008.  There were 0 children affected by (0 injured/0 killed at) methamphetamine labs in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

Enforcement

There were 32 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 146 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Alaska during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2007, Federal agencies seized 2.1 kilograms of methamphetamine in Alaska. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Alaska State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 7 methamphetamine lab incidents in Alaska during 2008. This includes all meth incidents, including labs, dumpsites, and/or chemical and glassware seizures. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Maps of Methamphetamine Lab Incidents)

Number of Meth Lab Incidents, Alaska, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	15	2004	66
2000	26	2005	37
2001	14	2006	4
2002	33	2007	0
2003	40	2008	7

During FY 2008, 48.2% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Alaska had committed a drug offense. Approximately 9.9% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Alaska)

Prevention

The Alaska Meth Education (AME) Project is aimed at preventing youth from trying meth and educating all Alaskans about the meth problem in the state. The AME Project’s goals are to reduce meth use and availability in Alaska. The AME Project is the result of the efforts of five local governments:

• The Municipality of Anchorage
• The Matanuska Susitna Borough
• The Kenai Peninsula Borough
• The Fairbanks North Star Borough
• The City and Borough of Juneau

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2003, there were 70 admissions to treatment in Alaska in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 1.7% of the total drug and alcohol admissions to treatment in the state. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, State Treatment Data, report run on April 16, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Alaska, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator service at 800-662-HELP (4357). You can also conduct a search for programs online using SAMHSA’s Treatment Facility Locator Web site.

If you would like to contact the substance abuse agency in the state, please see SAMHSA’s State Substance Abuse Agencies page, which contains links to and contact information for agencies within each state.

Search

Conduct a search of the MethResources database for additional information about methamphetamine in the state.