I recently read an article about the trend of Meth Addiction in California over the past two generations. The article took an in-depth look at national and state rates of youth Meth addicts. It turns out that the whole generation that has been born to those who were the first to become addicted to Meth in California, overall, reflected higher than average rates of addiction than the national average.
While many youth Meth addicts of the second generation did not decide to use Meth, the averaged rate of Meth Addiction in California amongst youths between the ages of 12-26 was nearly twice that of national average for the same age group. Nonetheless, the article cited that second generation Meth addicts in California have attended some kind of rehabilitation treatment center as a result of criminal convictions.
Find below statistics from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that reflect national averages through 2004-07 and below that California’s average for last year.
Meth Use in United States:
Total: 1.66 million, .68 percent
Ages 12-17: 164,000, .65 percent
Ages 18-25: 538,000, 1.65 percent
Ages 26 or older: 959,000 .51 percent
Meth Use in California:
Total: 395,000, 1.34 percent
Ages 12-17: 37,000, 1.14 percent
Ages 18-25: 114,000, 2.78 percent
Ages 26 or older: 244,000, 1.10 percent