Methamphetamine in Washington D.C.

Meth Situation and Prevalence

There is a very limited market for methamphetamine in the District of Columbia. What demand exists is centered on the city's rave and nightclub scene and among the city's gay population. Most of the methamphetamine available in Washington, D.C. comes from sources of supply in California via overnight or regular mail delivery services. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington D.C. State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.29% of persons aged 12 or older in Washington D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. students show that approximately 4.1% of 9th graders, 6.6% of 10th graders, 7.3% of 11th graders, and 6.3% 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 were 0 children affected by, 0 children injured at, and 0 children killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Washington, D.C. during 2008. There were 0 children affected by (0 injured/0 killed at) methamphetamine labs in D.C. during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

Enforcement

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were 0 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 0 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Washington, D.C.  during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 0.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in Washington, D.C. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington D.C. Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, since 2004, there have been 0 methamphetamine lab incidents in Washington D.C. In 2004, there was 1 incident reported. This includes all meth incidents, including labs, dumpsites, and/or chemical and glassware seizures. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Maps of Methamphetamine Lab Incidents)

During FY 2008, 52% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Washington D.C. had committed a drug offense. Approximately 3.4% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 District of Columbia)

Prevention

If you would like to share information about your methamphetamine prevention program's efforts with us for possible inclusion on our site, please contact us.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2008, there were 8 admissions to treatment in Washington D.C. in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 0.2% 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 27, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Washington D.C., 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 the Treatment Facility Locator Web site.

If you would like to contact the substance abuse agency in your 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.