Methamphetamine in South Carolina

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine is a constant threat in South Carolina. In the last year there as been a slight increase in methamphetamine seizures pivotal to the steady decrease documented between 2005 and 2007. This spurt, in spite of recently passed state and federal laws prohibiting the sale of methamphetamine HCl precursors, may be attributed to traffickers using alternative methods for processing methamphetamine or Ice. Mexico and local suppliers are the primary sources for methamphetamine in the state with Atlanta reported as a source city. Typically, the drug is transported from Mexico, California, and Atlanta by private vehicle using I-20 and I-95. (Drug Enforcement Administration, South Carolina State Factsheet, 2009)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.56% of persons aged 12 or older in South Carolina 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 South Carolina students show that approximately 5.7% of 9th graders, 3.8% of 10th graders, 5.5% of 11th graders, and 3.1% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2008)

County level drug use statistics in South Carolina obtained from the Substance Abuse Agencies Management Information System (SAAMIS), a data collection and reporting system, is available on the Statistics section of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services Web site.

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, preliminary data show that there were 17 children affected by methamphetamine laboratories in South Carolina during 2008. There were 0 children affected by, injured/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 106 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 632 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in South Carolina during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 4.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in South Carolina. (Drug Enforcement Administration, South Carolina State Factsheet, 2009)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 46 methamphetamine lab incidents in South Carolina 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, South Carolina, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	7	2004	170
2000	4	2005	142
2001	10	2006	69
2002	36	2007	26
2003	65	2008	46

During FY 2008, 37.1% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in South Carolina had committed a drug offense. Approximately 11.6% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of South Carolina)

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 586 admissions to treatment in South Carolina in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 1.9% 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 17, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in South Carolina, 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.