Treatment for Methamphetamine Dependence: Where Do We Stand? Current Knowledge and Future Treatment Targets

Methamphetamine dependence has grown into an epidemic in the United States. An estimated 10.4 million people aged 12 years or older have tried methamphetamine.1 While the prevalence of methamphetamine use has remained constant in recent years, severity of use is increasing. The number of methamphetamine users in the past month meeting criteria for amphetamine abuse or dependence during the past year has more than doubled from 27.5% in 2002 to 59.3% in 2004.2 In 2004, 4% of all drug-related visits to the emergency department (ED) were because of methamphetamine abuse.1 In 2006, there were an estimated 761,000 current users of methamphetamine aged 12 years or older.2 Although valiant efforts have been made to reduce access to the chemical precursors of methamphetamine, it is likely that methamphetamine will remain accessible and inexpensive, and costs associated with increased use will continue to rise.3