Methamphetamine in Wisconsin

Meth Situation and Prevalence

While methamphetamine abuse seemed to be expanding from Minnesota and Iowa into rural counties in western Wisconsin, production of the drug in Wisconsin has declined steadily. Some methamphetamine is imported into the state by Mexican sources from the southwest border. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin State Factsheet, 2008)

According to 2004-2007 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 0.56% of persons aged 12 or older in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin students show that approximately 2.8% of 9th graders, 4.4% of 10th graders, 3.6% of 11th graders, and 4.7% of 12th graders reported using methamphetamine at least once during their lifetimes. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Online: Comprehensive Results, 2007)

The Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office offers a Methamphetamine in Wisconsin section, which provides county-level information for those concerned about methamphetamine. Contained within the Web site is information on how to contact law enforcement, what to do if children are at risk, and additional meth-related resources.

Drug Endangered Children

According to the El Paso Intelligence Center’s Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System, preliminary data show that there were 2 children affected by, 0 children injured at, and 0 children killed at methamphetamine laboratories in Wisconsin during 2008.  There was 1 child affected by methamphetamine labs in the state during 2007. (El Paso Intelligence Center, Children Affected Summary, report run on February 3, 2009)

The Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a multi-disciplinary partnership, supports communities in assessing service needs, coordinating efforts and keeping children safe and free from the exposure to dangerous drug environments.

Enforcement

There were 401 state and local arrests for the sale/manufacturing of synthetic narcotics (includes methamphetamine) and 742 state and local arrests for the possession of synthetic narcotics in Wisconsin during 2007. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Arrests by State, 2007)

During 2008, Federal agencies seized 0 kilograms of methamphetamine in Wisconsin. (Drug Enforcement Administration, Wisconsin State Factsheet, 2008)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 137 methamphetamine lab incidents in Wisconsin 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, Wisconsin, 1999-2008

Year	# of Incidents	Year	# of Incidents
1999	5	2004	78
2000	26	2005	55
2001	45	2006	31
2002	79	2007	5
2003	101	2008	137

During FY 2008, 37% of the Federally-sentenced defendants in Wisconsin had committed a drug offense. Approximately 7.9% of these drug cases involved methamphetamine. (U.S. Sentencing Commission, Statistical Information Packet: Fiscal Year 2008 State of Wisconsin)

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 2007, there were 355 admissions to treatment in Wisconsin in which amphetamines were the primary substance of abuse. The admissions represented 1.2% 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 April 3, 2009)

For information about treatment programs in Wisconsin, 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 the Treatment Facility Locator Web site.

If you would like to contact the substance abuse agency in your 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.