Meth-use rate among young adults in 2001-02 was 2.8 percent, almost double previous estimate

A new study says almost 3 percent of young adults in the U.S. used crystal methamphetamine in 2001-02, a rate double that of a previous study for an overlapping period. The new research found 2.8 percent of Americans aged 18-26 during 2001-02 reported use of the drug in the previous 12 months. A study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse in 2002 found a rate of 1.4 percent among those aged 19-28. The new study was funded by NIDA and the National Institutes of Health and published in the July issue of the journal Addiction.

The age group is most prone to meth use, an NIH release said. "The study found that young adult users are disproportionately white and male and live in the West, and that Native Americans were 4.2 times as likely as whites to use crystal methamphetamine," the release said. "Users also tend to have lower social economic status, use other substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine, and the male users are more likely to have had incarcerated fathers." Crystal meth is purer and has greater potential for abuse than the powdered form.