Methamphetamine in New Mexico

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine poses a multi-pronged threat in this region and is available in multi-kilogram quantities. The majority of methamphetamine seized originates in Mexico but arrives in New Mexico from distributors in Los Angeles and Phoenix operating as part of larger Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations. Methamphetamine investigations are especially prevalent in the area known as the Four Corners region where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet to form a common border and along the eastern New Mexico/Texas border. Popular in the area are small, clandestine laboratories set up in remote, rural locations. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New Mexico State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.67% of persons aged 12 or older in New Mexico 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 New Mexico students show that approximately 7.5% of 9th graders, 7.6% of 10th graders, 8.3% of 11th graders, and 7.1% 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 3 children affected by methamphetamine laboratories in New Mexico during 2008.  There were 6 children affected by methamphetamine labs in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety offers information on the New Mexico Drug Endangered Children section of their Web site on safety and environmental hazards of meth, how the drug is produced, its effects and history, and how to report children that are at risk of exposure.

Enforcement

There were 626 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 592 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in New Mexico during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 35 kilograms of methamphetamine in New Mexico. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New Mexico State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 61 methamphetamine lab incidents in New Mexico 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, New Mexico, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	47	2004	120
2000	50	2005	59
2001	103	2006	33
2002	121	2007	24
2003	195	2008	61

During FY 2008, 21% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in New Mexico had committed a drug offense. Approximately 13.6% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of New Mexico)

Prevention

New Mexico’s Strategic Prevention Network uses a community organizing approach to develop new ordinances and written policies, change informal practices such as more frequent patrolling by local police agencies or increased media coverage of methamphetamine-related issues, identify and promote a variety of policy initiatives, make it more difficult for young people to obtain and use methamphetamine, and make its use less acceptable within the local culture.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2007, there were 872 admissions to treatment in New Mexico in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 8.1% 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 29, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in New Mexico, 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.