Methamphetamine in New Jersey

Meth Situation and Prevalence

Methamphetamine is the most available and widely used clandestinely manufactured drug in the Southern New Jersey area. Methamphetamine traffickers are primarily of Mexican descent, with direct connections to violators in the western United States and Mexico. Methamphetamine availability has increased in the southern part of the state, allegedly due to the influx of Mexican suppliers. Crystal methamphetamine use and distribution in New Jersey appears to be closely associated with members of the Filipino community with Filipino traffickers importing large amounts of methamphetamine from Mexico and the Philippines. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.07% of persons aged 12 or older in New Jersey 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 2005 survey of New Jersey students show that approximately 2.0% of 9th graders, 2.4% of 10th graders, 2.9% of 11th graders, and 3.4% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2005)

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, there was 0 children affected by, injured at, or killed at methamphetamine laboratories in New Jersey during 2007 or 2008. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

Enforcement

There were 447 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 935 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in New Jersey during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 74.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in New Jersey. (Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 3 methamphetamine lab incidents in New Jersey 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 Jersey, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	2	2004	0
2000	0	2005	3
2001	1	2006	5
2002	3	2007	1
2003	0	2008	3

During FY 2008, 33.1% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in New Jersey had committed a drug offense. Approximately 5.4% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of New Jersey)

Prevention

If you would like to share information about your methamphetamine prevention program's efforts with us for possible inclusion on our site, please contact us.

Treatment

According to data provided to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, during 2008, there were 187 admissions to treatment in New Jersey in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 0.3% 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 5, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in New Jersey, please view the Treatment Directory or call the Addiction Hotline of New Jersey at 800-238-2333. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator service at 800-662-HELP (4357) or 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.