our native methamphetamine crisis atni winter conference

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The American Indian/Alaska Native National Resource Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Our Native Methamphetamine Crisis

ATNI Winter Conference

Dale Walker, MD Patricia Silk Walker, PhD Michelle Singer

Methamphetamine Conference Portland, Oregon. February 13, 2007

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One Sky Center

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Jack Brown Adolescent Treatment Center

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

United American Indian Involvement

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

Na'nizhoozhi Center

Tribal Colleges and Universities

One Sky Center

National Indian Youth Leadership Project

Cook Inlet Tribal Council

Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research

Red Road

Prairielands ATTC

Harvard Native Health Program

One Sky Center Partners

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One Sky Center Outreach

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Methamphetamine: Epidemiology

Past Month Illicit Drug Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17, by Race/Ethnicity: 2002

Methamphetamine: Epidemiology

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Meth admissions by state

-

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

OR

Oregon Methamphetamine Admissions

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OHSU Substance Abuse Clinic Enrollees

1998-2000

2002-2004

N= 108 percent N= 172 percent

Alcohol 25 23% 22 13%

Marijuana mixed 8 7% 5 3%

Marijuana only 23 21% 38 22%

Methadone/heroin 30 28% 47 27%

Methamphetamine 34 31% 84 49%

Narcotics 5 4% 6 3%

Benzodiazepines 2 2% 6 3%

Hallucinogens 3 3% 1 1%

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National Methamphetamine Initiative Survey

Mark Evans Tactical Intelligence Supervisor New Mexico Investigative Support Center 4-12-2006

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IHS-Wide Outpatient Encounters for Amphetamine Related Visit by Calendar

Year

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Why is Methamphetamine

so Devastating?

• Cheap, readily available• Stimulates, gives intense pleasure• Damages the user’s brain• Paranoid, delusional thoughts• Depression when stop using• Craving overwhelmingly powerful• Brain healing takes up to 2 years• We are not familiar with treating it

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Methamphetamine, Why Now?

• The Internet• Diffused local production, less reliance on imports• Multi-drug use – no one uses only crystal• National outbreak• Varied sub-populations• More smoking• Strong association with HIV, hepatitis C• Community level responses to AIDS deaths, 9/11,

war• National discussion

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Target all Forms of Drug Use

. . .and be Culturally Sensitive

Prevention Programs Should . . . .

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Treatment Outcomes

Myth

Clients addicted to Methamphetamine

have poorer treatment outcomes

Reality Data show that methamphetamine treatment

outcomes are not very different than those for other addictive drugs

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Contact us at503-494-3703E-mailDale Walker, MDonesky@ohsu.eduOr visit our website:www.oneskycenter.org