Methamphetamine in Wyoming

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine is the most serious drug threat in Wyoming. In recent years, methamphetamine arrests have exceeded arrests for all other drugs, however, clandestine methamphetamine laboratory seizures have begun to decline. Methamphetamine abuse is of great concern to Wyoming law enforcement due to its correlation with violent crime, domestic violence, and child abuse. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Wyoming State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.62% of persons aged 12 or older in Wyoming 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 Wyoming students show that approximately 5.8% of 9th graders, 5.5% of 10th graders, 7.1% of 11th graders, and 5.3% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2007)

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 Wyoming during 2008.  There were also 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 89 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 333 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Wyoming during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 0.3 kilograms of methamphetamine in Wyoming. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Wyoming State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 3 methamphetamine lab incidents in Wyoming 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, Wyoming, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	18	2004	21
2000	12	2005	9
2001	30	2006	3
2002	61	2007	8
2003	26	2008	3

During FY 2008, 47% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Wyoming had committed a drug offense. Approximately 74.7% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Wyoming)

Prevention

The Wyoming Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach. Central to the program is a research-based marketing campaign that graphically communicates the risks of meth use. The Meth Project has been repeatedly cited as a powerful private-sector response to a devastating social problem and was recently recognized by the White House as one of the nation's most effective prevention programs.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2007, there were 617 admissions to treatment in Wyoming in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 13.6% 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 23, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Wyoming, 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.