Report Also Shows Influx of Heroin into Minneapolis

People addicted to methamphetamine now account for an unprecedented 12.1 percent of admissions to addiction treatment programs in the metro area, compared with 10 percent in 2004, 7.5 percent in 2003, and only 2.9 percent in 1998, according to a new report on drug abuse trends released today by the Hazelden Foundation.

"For the first time in the Twin Cities, there are almost as many people entering treatment for meth as for cocaine," said Carol Falkowski, Hazelden's director of research communications and author of the report. "This clearly indicates a significant and growing meth problem here in the Twin Cities, as well as in rural parts of Minnesota."  In 2005 (first half) 12.1 percent of the patients entering treatment programs in the metro area reported meth as the primary substance problem, compared with 13.4 percent who reported cocaine, according to the report.

Concerning other drugs, heroin appeared in Minneapolis in 2005 in record high amounts.  The amount seized by Hennepin County law enforcement increased from 76 grams in 2004, to 1,538 grams in 2005 -- all "black tar" heroin of Mexican origin.

Opiate-related deaths continued at heightened levels (outnumbering those for cocaine), and treatment admissions rose to 5.2 percent in 2005, up from 3.1 percent in 2000.  In hospital emergency departments, cocaine-related visits outnumbered those involving any other illicit drug in 2005 (first half), continuing a long-standing trend.  There were 1,532 reports of cocaine, 1,390 reports of marijuana, 673 reports of meth, 434 reports of underage drinking, and 376 reports of heroin in 2005 (first half).

"Marijuana was still the primary substance problem reported by more patients in treatment than any other illicit drug (19 percent)," said Falkowski, also the continuation of a long-standing trend.  The average age of first marijuana use was 13.8 years, according to the report.  Most indicators regarding "club drugs" (GHB, MDMA, Ketamine, LSD) showed downward trends since 2001.

This report is part of an epidemiological drug abuse-monitoring network comprised of drug abuse researchers in twenty U.S. cities who are convened by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to detect new drugs of abuse, patterns of use, and populations at risk. Falkowski has written a report on Twin Cities drug abuse trends twice annually since 1986.