Methamphetamine Is a Major Drug Threat in the U.S.
The country faces a speedballing, fentanyl and meth overdose crisis.
By Mark S Gold
Published by Psychology Today on December 27, 2024
Key points
• Methamphetamine abuse is growing in the United States.
• Overdoses that include methamphetamine are on the rise.
• Methamphetamine plus Fentanyl in pills, smoke, or i.v. use cause the majority of deaths.
• Researchers are trying but no medication is FDA approved for methamphetamine use disorder or overdose.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant and one of the most widely abused drugs worldwide. Production and distribution of methamphetamine have increased significantly, leading to greater availability and lower prices. This is partly due to establishment of large-scale production operations in Mexico, a major supplier to “meth” users nationwide. In 2024, approximately 2.5 million people in the United States reported using methamphetamine in the past 12 months.
