Government
Millions abusing illegal or prescription stimulants, government finds
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 21, 2005
An estimated 1.2 million people 12 or older used methamphetamine or prescription stimulants nonmedically in the month before being surveyed, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration information released earlier this month. The data, extracted from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, show that 378,000 Americans met the diagnostic criteria for dependence on or abuse of stimulants in the last year, with the greatest prevalence among people 12 to 25.
Stimulants most often abused are methamphetamine, prescription diet pills, Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine), the data say. More than 12 million Americans ages 12 and older (5.2% of the population) have used methamphetamine in their lifetimes.
"Methamphetamine is the most frequently illicitly used stimulant," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie noted. "Our task is to prevent youth and young adults from initiating methamphetamine use that can wreck their minds, their bodies and their futures."
The report is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/21/gvbf0221.htm.
