Methamphetamine in Indiana

Meth Situation and Prevalence

The trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine in Indiana has increased sharply over the past decade. Mexican trafficking organizations are transporting from 15 to 25 pounds at a time with a purity level ranging from 25 to 85 percent. The local methamphetamine distributors operating small, toxic laboratories, usually constructed in barns or residential homes, ditrubute methamphetamine with purities between 30 to 80 percent. They commonly produce enough methamphetamine for personal use and sell small amounts. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Factsheet, 2009)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.61% of persons aged 12 or older in Indiana 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 Indiana students show that approximately 4.7% of 9th graders, 6.1% of 10th graders, 7.1% of 11th graders, and 6.3% 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, preliminary data show that there were 90 children affected by, 0 children injured at, and 0 children killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Indiana during 2008.  There were 111 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)

The Indiana Department of Child Services features the Indiana Drug Endangered Children Protocol on their Web site.

Enforcement

There were 450 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 1,114 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Indiana during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 9.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in Indiana. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Indiana State Factsheet, 2009)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 724 methamphetamine lab incidents in Indiana 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, Indiana, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	151	2004	1074
2000	363	2005	981
2001	521	2006	737
2002	723	2007	795
2003	979	2008	724

During FY 2008, 45.1% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Indiana had committed a drug offense. Approximately 22.2% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Indiana)

Prevention

The Meth Free Indiana Coalition was formed in 2005 to combat the destruction of Indiana communities caused by methamphetamine. It is comprised of over 15 agencies including Indiana state government, working in conjunction with retailers, groceries, pharmacies, gas stations, and convenience stores to help stop the meth epidemic.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2007, there were 1,459 admissions to treatment in Indiana in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 5.0% 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 May 14, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Indiana, please visit the Providers for Chemical Addiction site or 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.