Methamphetamine in New York

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse in New York State is a less serious problem when compared to heroin, cocaine, crack, and MDMA. New York has a somewhat bifurcated methamphetamine market. In the New York City area, the market is primarily for crystal methamphetamine. Much of the methamphetamine seen in NYC was produced by Mexico and/or California based Mexican methamphetamine trafficking organizations. The upstate New York market is primarily methamphetamine powder supplied by local clandestine labs. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New York State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.19% of persons aged 12 or older in New York 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 New York students show that approximately 3.3% of 9th graders, 4.5% of 10th graders, 4.4% of 11th graders, and 3.7% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (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, there were 0 children affected by, injured at, or killed at methamphetamine laboratories in New York during 2008. There was 1 child affected by methamphetamine laboratories in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

Enforcement

There were 171 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 734 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in New York during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 7.1 kilograms of methamphetamine in New York. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New York State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 9 methamphetamine lab incidents in New York 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, New York, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	1	2004	48
2000	2	2005	20
2001	8	2006	38
2002	26	2007	13
2003	18	2008	9

During FY 2008, 41.1% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in New York had committed a drug offense. Approximately 3.6% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of New York)

Prevention

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services offers information on their Methamphetamine Electronic Clearinghouse Web site on methamphetamine prevention and treatment, the dangers of methamphetamine production, and details on the mandatory reporting of meth labs.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2007, there were 683 admissions to treatment in New York 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 28, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in New York, please conduct a Treatment Provider Search or call 877-846-7369. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator service at 800-662-HELP (4357) or 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.