Meth taking US by storm

Created: Friday, February 23, 2007 Print While treatment admissions are falling for abuse of cocaine and heroin, admissions are rising for Americans being treated for abuse of methamphetamine and narcotic painkillers, the US government said Thursday.

People treated for prescription narcotic abuse rose 9 percent to more than 64 000 between 2004 and 2005, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said in a statement. And between 1995 and 2005, the number of admissions for drugs including codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, and similar medications soared more than 300 percent, the agency said.

Use of methamphetamine, a home-made stimulant produced from ingredients in over-the-counter cold medicines, rose 12 percent to more than 169 000 between 2004 and 2005, SAMHSA said. But that number was relatively small compared with other illicit drugs, the agency added.

In 2005, there were 256 491 substance abuse treatment admissions for cocaine use and 254 345 admissions for heroin, representing slight declines from the prior year. Treatment for marijuana abuse also fell slightly over the span, the agency said. – (HealthDayNews)

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Substance abuse Centre

February 2007

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