Methamphetamine in Montana

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Law enforcement officers across the state identify methamphetamine as the most significant drug problem in Montana. Mexican trafficking organizations are responsible for the majority of methamphetamine distribution in the state. Mexican methamphetamine is most available in western Montana, due to the proximity to established trafficking routes in the Pacific Northwest. Beyond organized methamphetamine trafficking, numerous small scale local laboratory operators, producing moderate quantities of methamphetamine for personal use or local distribution, are problematic to law enforcement. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 1.15% of persons aged 12 or older in Montana 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 Montana students show that approximately 3.6% of 9th graders, 4.2% of 10th graders, 5.5% of 11th graders, and 5.0% 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 0 children affected by, injured at, or killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Montana during 2008. There were 4 children affected by (0 injured or killed at) methamphetamine laboratories in the state during 2007.  (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

The Montana Alliance for Drug Endangered Children works collaboratively to intervene on behalf of drug endangered children by rescuing, defending, sheltering and supporting them, with an emphasis on those children exposed to methamphetamine use, production and trafficking.

Enforcement

There were 17 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 57 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Montana during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in Montana. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 5 methamphetamine lab incidents in Montana 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, Montana, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	26	2004	65
2000	28	2005	26
2001	65	2006	16
2002	89	2007	7
2003	73	2008	5

During FY 2008, 29.6% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Montana had committed a drug offense. Approximately 69.4% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Montana)

Prevention

The Montana Meth Project is a large-scale exercise in prevention aimed at significantly reducing meth use in Montana. The integrated program consists of an ongoing, research-based marketing campaign—supported by community outreach and public policy initiatives—that realistically and graphically communicates the risks of methamphetamine to the youth of Montana.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2008, there were 652 admissions to treatment in Montana in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 7.0% 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 15, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Montana, 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.