U.S. Department of Justice

National Drug Intelligence Center

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004

November 2006

National Methamphetamine 

Threat Assessment 

2007 
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i

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

Strategic Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Intelligence Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

OCDETF Regional Methamphetamine Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Florida/Caribbean OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Great Lakes OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Mid-Atlantic OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

New England OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

New York/New Jersey OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Pacific OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Southeast OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Southwest OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

West Central OCDETF Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Appendix A. Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Appendix B. Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Table of Contents
ii

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

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1

U.S. Department of Justice

National Drug Intelligence Center

Assessment Product No. 2006-Q0317-004

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

29 November 2006

Strategic Findings

• Sharp decreases in domestic methamphetamine production since 2003 have been offset 

by increased production in Mexico for U.S. 

distribution by Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). 

• Recent strong chemical control efforts in 

Mexico may be challenging Mexican DTOs’ 

ability to maintain their current high level of 

methamphetamine production.

• Mexican DTOs and criminal groups are expanding their position relative to methamphetamine 

distribution, particularly ice methamphetamine, 

including in the eastern United States.

Overview

Methamphetamine production and distribution 

are undergoing significant strategic shifts, resulting in new challenges to law enforcement and public health agencies. Law enforcement pressure and 

strong precursor chemical sales restrictions have 

achieved marked success in decreasing domestic 

methamphetamine production. Mexican DTOs, 

however, have exploited the vacuum created by 

rapidly expanding their control over methamphetamine distribution—even to eastern states—as 

users and distributors who previously produced the 

drug have sought new, consistent sources. These 

Mexican methamphetamine distribution groups 

(supported by increased methamphetamine production in Mexico) are often more difficult for 

local law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate, and dismantle because they typically are 

much more organized and experienced than local 

independent producers and distributors. Moreover, these Mexican criminal groups typically produce and distribute ice methamphetamine that 

usually is smoked, potentially resulting in a more 

rapid onset of addiction to the drug. These numerous factors contribute to the significant threat 

posed to the United States by the trafficking and 

abuse of methamphetamine. In fact, according to 

National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) 2006 data, 

38.8 percent of state and local law enforcement 

officials nationwide report methamphetamine as 

the greatest drug threat to their areas, a higher percentage than that for any other drug.

State-level precursor chemical controls have 

contributed to a sharp decrease in domestic 

methamphetamine production: Since April 2004, 

44 states have restricted retail sales of ephedrine 

and pseudoephedrine products to varying degrees, 

complementing already strong federal controls 

over wholesale precursor chemical sales. Retail 

sales restrictions—supported by sustained law 

enforcement pressure—have limited the amount 

of pseudoephedrine available to small-scale methamphetamine producers, resulting in a sharp 

decrease in the prevalence of small methamphetamine laboratories nationally. In fact, El Paso 

Intelligence Center (EPIC) National Clandestine 

Laboratory Seizure System (NCLSS) data show 

that the overall number of reported methamphetamine laboratory seizures nationwide decreased 

43 percent from 10,212 in 2003 to 5,846 in 2005 

(see Figure 1 on page 2). Preliminary data indicate 

that this trend has continued in 2006, and the number of laboratory seizures will quite likely 

decrease further as more states implement similar 

restrictions—six more states and the District of 

Columbia are considering retail sales restrictions.
2

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

Precursor chemical restrictions and law 

enforcement pressure have forced most California superlabs to relocate: Restrictions on pseudoephedrine imports from Canada to the United 

States in 2003 resulted in an immediate and significant decrease in the number of reported domestic 

superlab (capable of producing 10 or more pounds 

of methamphetamine per production cycle) seizures (see Figure 2). Many of these laboratories—

primarily operated by Mexican criminal groups—

have relocated to Mexico, where bulk quantities of 

ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are more available. However, some Mexican criminal groups 

have remained in the United States to produce 

methamphetamine in superlabs, particularly in 

California, which accounted for 29 of 35 reported 

superlab seizures in 2005. Of the criminal groups 

that have remained in the United States, many 

have relocated their superlab operations to very 

remote rural areas, usually in the Central Valley 

region of California, in an attempt to decrease the 

risk of detection from sustained, intense law 

enforcement pressure. Although Mexican criminal 

groups have long produced methamphetamine on 

farms and in rural areas of California, this practice 

has increased since 2002 as law enforcement pressure and public awareness have increased in more 

populated areas. In fact, NCLSS data show that 

superlab seizures in urban areas are now somewhat rare, accounting for only 6 of 29 superlab 

seizures in California in 2005. By relocating most 

superlab operations to rural areas with less law 

enforcement presence, Mexican criminal groups 

have been able to maintain significant methamphetamine production in California.

Methamphetamine production in Mexico has 

increased sharply; however, chemical restrictions may render current production levels difficult to sustain: There are no widely accepted 

estimates regarding the amount of methamphetamine produced in Mexico; however, ample law 

enforcement reporting and drug seizure data at the 

U.S.–Mexico border indicate a significant increase 

in methamphetamine production in Mexico since 

2003. In fact, Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP) data show that seizures of methamphetamine (both ice and powder) along the Southwest 

Border increased from 2,706 pounds in fiscal year 

(FY) 2003, to 3,017 pounds in FY2004, to 4,346 

pounds in FY 2005, and reached 1,988 pounds 

through the first 6 months of FY2006. Further production increases are unlikely in the near term, 

however, and sustaining the current high level of 

production in Mexico has become more difficult, 

since the government of Mexico recently reduced 

ephedrine and pseudoephedrine imports 40.8 percent from 224 metric tons in 2004 to 132.5 metric 

tons in 2005 (with a goal of 70 metric tons for 

2006). Attempts to defeat the increasing chemical 

 Figure 1. Reported methamphetamine laboratory 

seizures, 2001–2006.

Source: National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System (Run date—

September 13, 2006).

*Data for 2006 are incomplete.

2,159

5,846

10,015

8,460 9,267

10,212

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*

 Figure 2. Reported methamphetamine superlab 

seizures, 2001–2006.

Source: National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System (Run date—

September 13, 2006).

*Data for 2006 are incomplete.

17

35 55

244

143 130

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*
3

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

restrictions in Mexico will quite likely include 

routing chemical shipments through transit countries, particularly in Central and South America, 

for subsequent smuggling into Mexico.

Methamphetamine distribution by Mexican 

criminal groups is expanding to sustain markets 

previously supplied by local production, particularly in midwestern and eastern states: As methamphetamine production in small-scale 

laboratories has decreased nationally since 2004, 

Mexican criminal groups have expanded direct 

distribution of Mexico-produced methamphetamine, even in many smaller communities. For 

example, in midwestern states such as Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio, where methamphetamine 

laboratory seizures have decreased significantly—

in some states by more than 55 percent—Mexican 

criminal groups have gained control over most 

distribution of the drug in these states. In fact, the 

Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 

(HIDTA) reports that in cities such as Des Moines 

and Sioux City, Iowa, where methamphetamine 

production and distribution previously were controlled by local independent traffickers, Mexican 

criminal groups, primarily distributing ice methamphetamine, have supplanted independent traffickers. Law enforcement reporting confirms a 

similar trend throughout much of the Great Lakes, 

Mid-Atlantic, Florida/Caribbean, Southeast, and 

West Central Organized Crime Drug Enforcement 

Task Force (OCDETF) Regions (see Figure 6 on 

page 5). These groups pose an increased challenge 

to local law enforcement because they are often 

Mexico-based, well-organized, and experienced 

drug distributors who have been successful in 

blending into somewhat insular Hispanic communities or among Hispanic workers employed in the 

agricultural, landscaping, construction, and meat 

packing industries. The ability of Mexican criminal groups to continue the expansion of methamphetamine distribution into more communities in 

the eastern United States appears to be limited 

only by their capability to further expand methamphetamine production in Mexico.

Increased ice availability is most likely contributing to increased methamphetamine addiction: 

Since 2001 the availability of Mexico-produced 

ice methamphetamine—a form of methamphetamine that typically is smoked—has increased 

sharply in most U.S. methamphetamine markets. 

For example, CBP data show that seizures of ice 

methamphetamine along the Southwest Border 

increased from 260 pounds in FY2003, to 1,034 

pounds in FY2004, and 1,423 pounds in 

FY2005. According to the National Institute on 

Drug Abuse (NIDA), smoking methamphetamine may result in more rapid addiction to the 

drug than snorting or injection because smoking 

 Figure 3. Primary methamphetamine admissions, 

2000–2004.

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set.

 Figure 4. Estimated number of methamphetamine 

users dependent on or abusing illicit drugs or 

stimulants, 2002–2004.

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

129,079

117,259 105,981

82,113

67,568

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

130 92 63

216

158

101

237 357 433

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2002 2003 2004

In Thousands

No Dependence/Abuse

Other Illicit Drug Dependence/Abuse

Stimulant Dependence/Abuse
4

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

causes a nearly instantaneous, intense, and longerlasting high. Although casual use of methamphetamine appears to be stable (see Appendix B, 

Tables 1 and 2), national-level data show a rise in 

the number of methamphetamine-related treatment 

admissions and methamphetamine-dependent individuals nationwide (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 on 

page 3), particularly since ice availability began to 

increase.1 In fact, even prior to the current influx of 

ice methamphetamine, users were increasingly 

choosing smoking as their primary mode of administration (see Figure 5). Increased rates of smoking 

ice methamphetamine, leading to increased rates of 

addiction, will further strain the resources of public 

health agencies, particularly drug treatment facilities in smaller communities.

Intelligence Gaps

The extent of precursor chemical diversion 

and trafficking from sources of supply in Asia is 

unclear. Intelligence and law enforcement 

reporting confirms the shipment of wholesale 

(multiton) quantities of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine —often repackaged with vague 

labeling and disguised as legitimate business 

transactions—to Mexico from source areas in 

Asia, particularly Hong Kong. However, there are 

relatively few data available to measure such 

activity, thereby impeding a full and accurate 

assessment of the situation.

There are no generally accepted methamphetamine production estimates or comprehensive laboratory seizure data for most foreign countries. 

This lack of data limits the accuracy of analysis 

regarding foreign production in areas of particular 

interest such as Mexico, Canada, and Asia. 

 Figure 5. Percentage of primary methamphetamine or amphetamine admissions, by route of 

administration, 1993–2004.

Source: Treatment Episode Data Set.

59.1

50.7

45.1

35.1

56.2

32.0

15.0

18.9 17.1

22.1 27.4

39.8 42.7 43.3 43.0

39.0

36.3

17.1 15.1

18.6

21.0

25.2

31.0

13.6

29.0 29.0 28.7 29.7 28.4

29.1

29.2 28.1

26.4 23.3 21.6 21.1

12.6

10.0 8.8 8.5 7.3 7.19.8 10.3 8.7 7.4 5.7 4.9 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Smoking Inhalation Injection Oral

1. Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2004 data are the most current and comprehensive data available. However, other 

drug consequence data such as Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Live and local drug treatment data reported by 

the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) are current through middle to late 2005 and indicate a similar 

trend continuing in 2005. 
5

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

OCDETF Regional Methamphetamine 

Summaries

The following regional summaries provide strategic overviews of the methamphetamine situation 

in each of the nine OCDETF regions, highlighting 

significant trends and law enforcement concerns 

relating to the trafficking and abuse of the drug. 

The summaries were prepared through detailed 

analysis of recent law enforcement reporting, 

information obtained through interviews with law 

enforcement and public health officials, OCDETF 

case files, and currently available statistical data. 

Florida/Caribbean OCDETF Region

Ice availability rising, driven by Mexican DTOs: 

Methamphetamine is a significant and increasing 

problem throughout Florida. Mexican DTOs, which 

have long been the primary suppliers of methamphetamine available in the region, are increasingly 

supplying large quantities of ice methamphetamine 

to distributors in Florida. As a result, ice has 

become the predominant form of methamphetamine 

sold in Florida. As availability of the drug has risen, 

abuse has spread from rural areas of the state to a 

number of cities, including Orlando and Tampa. 

Methamphetamine is rare in Puerto Rico and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands, and no clandestine laboratories 

were seized there in the last 4 years. 

Precursor laws causing drop in local laboratories: State precursor laws enacted in June 2005 

have strongly contributed to a decline in local 

methamphetamine production in Florida. Statewide, laboratory seizures increased from 301 in 

2004 to 337 in 2005 but dropped to 49 through 

September 2006. Nonetheless, many producers in 

Florida are circumventing the new precursor laws 

by making multiple purchases of ephedrine and 

pseudoephedrine under the threshold amount at different stores. Because the Florida law only limits 

the amount of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine that 

can be purchased per visit and does not establish a 

 Figure 6. Nine OCDETF regions.

MICHIGAN

FLORIDA

LOUISIANA

ARKANSAS SOUTH

CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

TENNESSEE NORTH

CAROLINA

ARI

OKLAHOMA

ZONA

KANSAS MISSOURI VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

COLORADO

W

MARYLAND

EST

VIRGINIA DEL

ILLINOIS

OHIO

UTAH VADA

INDIANA NEW JERSEY

RI

CONNECTICUT

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YORK

NEBRASKA

MASSACHUSETTS

IOWA

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

MINNESOTA

VERMONT

IDAHO

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MAINE

MONTANA

GTON

W e s t C e n t r a l

S o u t h w e s t

S o u t h e a s t

New

England

Mid-Atlantic

G r e a t L a k e s New York /

New Jersey

MICHIGAN

FLORIDA

LOUISIANA

ARKANSAS SOUTH

CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

TENNESSEE NORTH

CAROLINA

ARI

OKLAHOMA

ZONA

KANSAS MISSOURI VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

COLORADO

W

MARYLAND

EST

VIRGINIA

DELAWARE

ILLINOIS OHIO

UTAH VADA

INDIANA

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YORK

NEBRASKA

IOWA

MINNESOTA

VERMONT

IDAHO

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MAINE

MONTANA

GTON

W e s t C e n t r a l

S o u t h w e s t

S o u t h e a s t

New

Engla

Mid-Atlantic

G r e a t L a k e s New York /

New Jersey

f i c

NEW JERSEY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

RHODE ISLA

CONNECTICUT

MASSACHUS

MICHIGAN

FLORIDA

LOUISIANA

ARKANSAS SOUTH

CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

TENNESSEE NORTH

CAROLINA

ARI

OKLAHOMA

ZONA

KANSAS MISSOURI VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

COLORADO

W

MARYLAND

EST

VIRGINIA DEL

ILLINOIS

OHIO

CALIFORNIA

UTAH NEVADA

INDIANA NEW JERSEY

RI

CONNECTICUT

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YORK

NEBRASKA

MASSACHUSETTS

IOWA

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

OREGON

MINNESOTA

VERMONT

IDAHO

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MAINE

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

W e s t C e n t r a l

Southw est

Southeast

New

England

Mid-Atlantic

G r e a t L a k e s

Florida / Caribbean

New York /

New Jersey

MICHIGAN

FLORIDA

LOUISIANA

ARKANSAS SOUTH

CAROLINA

GEORGIA

MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA

NEW MEXICO

TEXAS

TENNESSEE NORTH

CAROLINA

ARI

OKLAHOMA

ZONA

KANSAS MISSOURI VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

COLORADO

WEST

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

DELAWARE

ILLINOIS OHIO

CALIFORNIA

UTAH NEVADA

INDIANA 

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW YORK

NEBRASKA

IOWA

OREGON

MINNESOTA

VERMONT

IDAHO

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MAINE

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

W e s t C e n t r a l

Southw est

Southeast

New

England

Mid-Atlantic

G r e a t L a k e s

Florida / Caribbean

New York /

New Jersey

AMERICAN

SAMOA 

G U A M

NORTHERN

MARIANA

ISLANDS P a c i f i c H A W A I I

PUERTO RICO

U.S. VIRGIN 

ISLANDS

A L A S K A

P a c i f i c

NEW JERSEY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

RHODE ISLAND

CONNECTICUT

MASSACHUSETTS
6

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

mechanism to track the identity and purchase history of buyers, producers who live in or near metropolitan areas and have access to many businesses 

that sell ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products 

can simply drive from store to store to purchase 

precursor chemicals. Some major retail stores have 

begun to independently track the identity and purchase history of buyers in an attempt to limit access 

to these chemicals to legitimate users. If the current 

situation with regard to tightening domestic precursor chemical controls and increasing availability of 

Mexico-produced methamphetamine remains 

unchanged, domestic methamphetamine production will most likely decline further.

Great Lakes OCDETF Region

Methamphetamine production continues to 

cause health and environmental concerns:

Methamphetamine production levels have 

increased significantly in the Great Lakes Region 

over the past 5 years, and although several indicators suggest the onset of a downward trend, such 

production continues to jeopardize the safety of 

citizens and drain law enforcement resources. 

According to NCLSS data, the number of 

reported methamphetamine laboratory seizures 

skyrocketed in the Great Lakes Region from 2001 

(1,316) to 2004 (2,954) before decreasing in 2005 

(2,698) and again through September 2006 (637). 

Law enforcement officials attribute the decrease in 

2005 to a combination of factors, including the rising availability of Mexico-produced ice methamphetamine, aggressive law enforcement efforts, 

public awareness campaigns, and precursor chemical control legislation. Nonetheless, methamphetamine production levels at small-capacity 

laboratories (those that produce 2 ounces or less 

per cycle), usually operated by Caucasian local 

independent dealers and outlaw motorcycle 

gangs (OMG)s, remain high in many areas in 

the Great Lakes Region, including Ohio and 

southwest Michigan, and continue to adversely 

affect law enforcement, citizens, and the environment. NCLSS data indicate that federal, 

state, and local law enforcement agencies in the 

Great Lakes Region spent over $4.7 million on 

methamphetamine laboratory cleanup costs in 

2005, up from $3.3 million in 2004.

Methamphetamine distribution and abuse have 

increased in the region: The availability and 

abuse of methamphetamine (both powder and ice) 

are increasing and pose one of the most significant 

challenges for law enforcement officials in the 

Great Lakes Region, including in Chicago, which 

historically has had limited problems associated 

with distribution and abuse of the drug. Federalwide Drug Seizure System (FDSS) data indicate 

that the amount of methamphetamine reported 

seized by federal law enforcement officials in the 

Great Lakes Region increased overall from 2001 

(147 kg) to 2005 (465 kg). In addition, Treatment 

Episode Data Set (TEDS) data indicate that the 

number of admissions for methamphetamine abuse 

to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Great 

Lakes Region more than tripled from 2000 (3,535) 

to 2004 (12,259). The increases in the total amount 

of methamphetamine seized and in the number of 

methamphetamine-related treatment admissions 

are primarily due to rising availability of Mexicoproduced ice methamphetamine.

Mexican traffickers transport significant 

quantities of ice methamphetamine to the region; 

some is destined for other regions: Mexican drug 

traffickers are the primary methamphetamine 

transporters to and through the Great Lakes 

Region, typically transporting significant quantities of the drug in private and commercial vehicles 

from Mexico and southwestern states to stash 

houses in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. From 

these cities, significant quantities of these drugs 

are further transported to smaller drug markets in 

and outside the Great Lakes Region. For instance, 

law enforcement reporting indicates that Mexican 

DTOs transport significant quantities of ice methamphetamine through Chicago and Detroit for distribution in the West Central, New York/New 

Jersey, and Southeast Regions. 
7

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

Ice methamphetamine is now available in 

areas that previously had no methamphetamine 

threat: Mexican DTOs, the primary wholesale and 

midlevel distributors of methamphetamine in the 

Great Lakes Region, have developed new markets 

for Mexico-produced ice methamphetamine in 

areas where methamphetamine was previously 

unavailable.Since the late 1990s Mexican DTOs 

have expanded their cocaine and marijuana distribution activities to include methamphetamine in 

some larger drug markets in the Great Lakes 

Region such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, 

and Toledo, Ohio, and Minneapolis.

Mid-Atlantic OCDETF Region

Methamphetamine threat increasing as 

Mexico-produced ice is entering region: The 

methamphetamine threat in the Mid-Atlantic 

region (MAR) is moderate but increasing in some 

areas. Overall methamphetamine availability in 

the region is low but increasing, particularly in 

the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the northwestern counties and Pocono Mountains area of 

Pennsylvania. In 2005 the number of methamphetamine laboratories seized in the MAR dropped; 

however, increasing amounts of ice methamphetamine transported into the region by Mexican 

DTOs has kept availability of the drug stable. 

Recent state-level precursor chemical controls 

have contributed to a sharp decrease in domestic 

methamphetamine production in the region:

Precursor legislation enacted in several MidAtlantic states has been instrumental in combating local methamphetamine production. Since 

April 2004 four states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, and West Virginia—have restricted 

retail sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine 

products to varying degrees, complementing 

already strong federal controls over wholesale 

precursor chemical sales. Retail sales restrictions—supported by sustained law enforcement 

pressure and rising public awareness—have 

greatly limited the amount of pseudoephedrine 

available to small-scale methamphetamine producers in the region, resulting in a sharp decrease 

in the prevalence of small methamphetamine 

laboratories. In fact, NCLSS data show that the 

overall number of reported methamphetamine laboratory seizures in the Mid-Atlantic Region 

decreased from 233 in 2004 to 177 in 2005. Preliminary data indicate that this trend has continued 

for 2006 and will very likely decrease further, since 

Maryland and the District of Columbia have proposed the implementation of similar restrictions. 

Methamphetamine demand low but increasing 

among some segments: The overall demand for 

methamphetamine in the MAR is relatively low, 

far less than the demand for cocaine and comparable to the demand for heroin; however, methamphetamine demand is increasing in the region 

among certain groups. Amphetamine-related 

admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities 

in the MAR (95 percent of which are methamphetamine-related) have increased substantially over 

the past several years. However, treatment providers report that high methamphetamine availability 

in specific locations such as northern Virginia is 

attracting new adolescent abusers. Lower- to middle-income, blue-collar Caucasians have traditionally been the major abusers of methamphetamine 

in the MAR. Abuse of ice appears to be rising 

among teenagers and young adults as well as gay 

males involved in the club scene.

Mexican DTOs dominant methamphetamine 

transporters: Local Mexican wholesale distributors transport multipound quantities of methamphetamine into the region from superlab 

production sites in Mexico and transshipment 

locations in the Southwest Region, northern and 

central California, Nevada, North Carolina, and 

Georgia. Most methamphetamine is transported 

by private and rented vehicles with hidden compartments. Ounce and pound quantities of methamphetamine also are shipped on a regular basis 

by mail and parcel delivery services from California and other western states to recipients in northern Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. OMGs 

such as Outlaws, Pagan’s, and Warlocks; Asian 

DTOs; and long-distance truck drivers also transport gram to ounce quantities of methamphetamine into the region, occasionally in pill form 

from Canada. Members of the gay community 
8

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

transport ice methamphetamine into the urban 

areas of the MAR (most notably the District of 

Columbia) from sources in New York City. Other 

primary destinations for methamphetamine shipments in the MAR include cities and towns in 

West Virginia, the suburbs of the District of 

Columbia, and the Tidewater and Richmond areas 

of Virginia.

Hispanic street gangs prominent in midlevel 

and retail sales: Mexican DTOs and Hispanic 

street gangs control much of the midlevel and 

retail distribution in cities and towns; however, 

Caucasian independent dealers have been the predominant retail dealers in the rural areas, where 

much of the drug is distributed and consumed. 

Lower- to middle-income, blue-collar Caucasians 

are the traditional street-level purchasers and 

abusers of powder methamphetamine. However, 

Mexico-produced ice is increasingly being 

abused by young adults and teenagers at parties, 

raves, and nightclubs and by members of the gay 

community at private residences and alternative 

lifestyle establishments.

New England OCDETF Region

Methamphetamine threat low but increasing; 

ice rarely available: Methamphetamine is an 

emerging drug threat in New England, with 

increasing clandestine laboratory seizures occurring in Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire. 

Treatment admissions are low and stable, but providers are concerned because methamphetamine 

abuse is expanding among the general population. 

Pound and kilogram quantities of methamphetamine increasingly have been seized by law 

enforcement officials, signaling a rise in the 

midlevel distribution of the drug in the region. The 

drug is most prevalent in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Powder methamphetamine is the type most commonly sold in the 

region; New England is one of the few areas of the 

nation where ice is rarely encountered.

Local production up; state legislation restricting precursor availability: Methamphetamine 

production levels in the New England Region 

(NER) are low when compared to those in the rest 

of the nation; however, the number of methamphetamine laboratories seized in the region is 

increasing slowly, and laboratories have been 

encountered in both urban and rural locations. 

Regionally, NCLSS data indicate that the number 

of methamphetamine laboratories seized rose from 

3 in 2002, to 8 in 2004, and 18 in 2005, reaching 

11 by September 2006. Most were seized in the 

Seacoast area of eastern New Hampshire. In 2005 

the Maine General Assembly restricted the availability of over-the-counter medications containing 

the precursors ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, 

and in 2006 both the New Hampshire and Vermont legislatures passed similar laws, while legislators in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode 

Island have proposed similar restrictions. 

Methamphetamine transported primarily by 

mail: Mexican and Caucasian DTOs and OMGs 

are the primary transporters of methamphetamine 

available in the region. Methamphetamine shipments destined for the NER typically originate in 

California and southwestern states as well as Colorado and Oregon. These traffickers typically use 

the U.S. mail system to smuggle methamphetamine 

into the region and recently have begun structuring 

shipments sent through the mail to minimize the 

risk of seizure. Law enforcement officials suspect 

that traffickers are “shotgunning” multiple small 

loads into the NER so that even if one package is 

seized, most of the drug will reach its destination. 

Caucasian independent distributors and small criminal groups are the dominant wholesale and retail 

distributors of the drug in the region. 

Methamphetamine, possibly precursors, being 

smuggled from Canada: Canada has emerged as a 

source for methamphetamine trafficked by Asian 

DTOs and OMGs, and possibly for ephedrine and 

pseudoephedrine encountered in the region. Canada-based Asian polydrug traffickers transport 

methamphetamine from areas in eastern Canada to 

the NER for distribution. 
9

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

New York/New Jersey OCDETF Region

Methamphetamine threat rising; Mexican 

DTOs smuggling ice methamphetamine into 

region: The methamphetamine threat in the New 

York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) Region is low but 

increasing, especially in some areas with large 

Hispanic populations. Availability is rising, driven 

by an influx of higher purity ice methamphetamine being transported into the area by Mexican 

organizations based in the Southwest and Mexico. 

Reporting from law enforcement and public health 

agencies throughout the city of New York indicates that the abuse of ice methamphetamine is 

increasing, particularly within the gay male community and nightclub scene of New York City. 

Law enforcement and treatment personnel are 

monitoring this situation closely because these 

populations have long been on the cutting edge of 

drug trends that later spread to the general population. Ice methamphetamine abuse also is increasing among the Asian community, particularly in 

the southern section of Queens. These abusers 

appear to be supplied by Asian traffickers who 

ship ice methamphetamine from the West Coast.

Local production low and falling: Methamphetamine production poses a low threat in the 

NY/NJ Region, with most activity concentrated in 

rural areas, particularly Upstate New York. The 

number of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories seized in the region is low and stable, 

according to law enforcement officials in the 

region, in part as a result of an increase in ice 

methamphetamine being transported from the 

Southwest Border, rendering local production less 

necessary. Additionally, legislation enacted in 

New York and New Jersey has been instrumental 

in combating local methamphetamine production. 

New Jersey enacted legislation that restricts the 

sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products, 

and New York introduced legislation to either 

schedule or place point-of-sale restrictions on 

these precursors. Most laboratories in the region 

are small-scale operations run by young Caucasian males, who produce the drug for their own 

use and for sale to close associates. These clandestine laboratory operators predominantly produce 

user-level amounts, although there have been several cases in southern New York State and in the 

Watertown area where larger, multiounce quantities were manufactured.

Mexican DTOs dominate methamphetamine 

trade: The vast majority of the methamphetamine 

consumed in the region is transported from Mexico and the western United States by Mexican 

DTOs, using well-established transportation and 

distribution networks that, since the mid-1990s, 

have gradually extended into the NY/NJ Region. 

Local Mexican wholesale distributors transport 

multipound quantities of methamphetamine into 

the region from Mexico and from transshipment 

locations in Southwest Border states, California 

and, increasingly, Atlanta. Most methamphetamine is transported overland by private and 

commercial vehicles. DTOs also use parcel delivery services and couriers on buses, trains, and 

commercial aircraft to transport the drug. Mexican 

DTOs also are the principal wholesale distributors 

of methamphetamine in the region. Moreover, 

these Mexican DTOs, along with Hispanic street 

gangs, control much of the midlevel and retail distribution in the region’s cities and towns. Caucasian independent dealers and OMGs are the 

predominant retail dealers in rural areas of the 

region, where most methamphetamine is distributed and consumed.

Pacific OCDETF Region

Region has most pervasive methamphetamine 

threat: Methamphetamine is increasingly available 

in the Pacific Region, particularly ice methamphetamine, which has become the predominant form of 

the drug available in most areas of the region. 

According to NDTS 2006 data, 92.2 percent of law 

enforcement agencies in the Pacific Region report 

that methamphetamine is the greatest drug threat in 

their jurisdictions, a higher percentage than for any 

other region in the country (see Appendix A, Map 

2). Throughout most of the Pacific Region, the rate 

of methamphetamine abuse is very high; for 

instance, in Hawaii, methamphetamine abuse rates 

are extremely high, indicating that methamphetamine is significantly more abused than marijuana. 
10

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

TEDS data for Hawaii show that in 2004 (the last 

year for which such data are available), primary 

methamphetamine admissions (2,381 or 41%) 

accounted for twice as many admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in Hawaii as marijuana admissions (1,209 or 20.8%). Conversely, 

nationwide in 2004 primary treatment admissions 

for methamphetamine accounted for 8 percent of 

all drug treatment admissions, while marijuana 

accounted for 16 percent of all admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities. Furthermore, 

Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) 

findings indicate that, in Hawaii, methamphetamine accounted for 58 percent of drug treatment 

admissions in the state during 2005. Additionally, 

CEWG data for the state (available only through 

June 2005) reveal a 25 percent increase in medical 

examiner reports of positive decedent toxicology 

for methamphetamine, a 20 percent increase in 

occupancy of treatment spaces for methamphetamine treatment, and a 20 percent increase in 

methamphetamine-related cases reported by the 

Honolulu Police Department during that time.

Lower methamphetamine purity levels in some 

areas: Methamphetamine availability is high 

throughout most of the Pacific Region; however, 

law enforcement reporting from the region indicates a decrease in the purity of the drug in some 

areas. Law enforcement officials in California, 

Hawaii, and Nevada have reported lower purity 

methamphetamine, particularly at the midlevel 

and retail level. For instance, law enforcement in 

Las Vegas report that local distributors are limiting the amount of methamphetamine that mid- and 

retail-level buyers can purchase because of 

decreased supplies of ice methamphetamine. The 

lower purity observed and reported by law 

enforcement may be a result of decreased availability that has forced mid- and retail-level distributors to cut the drug to stretch supplies.

Chemical controls decrease production, but 

chemical diversion continues: Methamphetamine 

production has decreased significantly in the 

Pacific Region, largely a result of successful law 

enforcement operations and regulatory efforts to 

control precursor chemicals. Most states in the 

Pacific Region have enacted legislation to regulate 

the sale of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, and several states have scheduled the substances to further restrict their use. Most states report 

decreased production levels since enacting these 

controls. Nonetheless, precursor chemical diversion has persisted in the region, with wholesale 

quantities being smuggled in from Canada and 

Mexico to operators of major and large-scale laboratories. Many of the Mexican DTOs operating 

large-scale laboratories in the region have moved 

production operations to either Mexico or very 

remote rural areas, particularly in the Central Valley region of California, in an attempt to decrease 

the risk of detection from sustained, intense law 

enforcement pressure.

Mexican groups produce large quantities of 

methamphetamine, primarily in California: 

Methamphetamine continues to be produced in 

large-scale laboratories located primarily in the 

Central Valley of California for distribution 

throughout the region and the country. Mexican 

DTOs and criminal groups that continue to produce methamphetamine in the region operate both 

superlabs and major laboratories (those capable of 

producing between 2 and 9 pounds of methamphetamine per production cycle). According to 

NCLSS, 6 superlabs were seized in the Pacific 

Region through September 2006, compared with 

29 in 2005 and 48 in 2004. Although superlab seizures are relatively few and decreasing, 5 of the 6 

laboratories seized in 2006 were relatively large, 

capable of producing more than 20 pounds of 

methamphetamine per production cycle. Additionally, 4 major laboratories were seized in the region 

through September 2006. While major laboratories do not have the production capability of 

superlabs, they can produce significantly more 

methamphetamine than small-scale laboratories.

Methamphetamine is distributed by Mexican 

traffickers from the Pacific Region to drug markets throughout the country: Methamphetamine 

produced in the Pacific Region and methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico are distributed to drug markets in the region and in other 

regions of the United States. Mexican DTOs and 
11

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

criminal groups operating large-scale methamphetamine laboratories in the region distribute 

significant quantities of the drug that they produce to drug markets throughout the country. 

Mexican DTOs and criminal groups also dominate distribution of methamphetamine that is 

smuggled from Mexico, distributing the drug in 

the Pacific Region as well as to markets throughout the country. As demand for methamphetamine spreads into new drug markets and as 

precursor controls curb local production, methamphetamine distribution from the Pacific 

Region by these groups most likely will increase. 

Southeast OCDETF Region

Ice distribution and abuse up dramatically: 

Methamphetamine poses a significant threat to the 

Southeast Region. The distribution and abuse of 

ice methamphetamine have increased dramatically 

in the Southeast over the past several years, primarily as a result of two factors. First, Mexican 

DTOs have fostered an increase in ice availability 

throughout the region by using transportation and 

distribution networks established for cocaine and 

marijuana to smuggle and sell massive quantities 

of ice and by aggressively marketing the drug. 

Second, abusers have been increasingly drawn to 

the drug’s long-lasting high, declining price, and 

smokable form.

Abuse spreading beyond traditional users:

Interviews of law enforcement and public health 

agencies throughout the Southeast Region indicate 

that methamphetamine abuse is expanding among 

users and in locations that historically have not 

been associated with the drug. Previously, almost 

all methamphetamine abused in the Southeast was 

used by lower-income Caucasians in rural areas, 

and they almost exclusively abused powder methamphetamine. Now, a growing number of methamphetamine abusers in the Southeast are middleand upper-income Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanics who live in cities and suburban areas and abuse ice. A substantial portion of 

these users are teenagers and young adults 

involved in the club scene, a venue where many 

new ice abusers are introduced to the drug.

Local methamphetamine production is declining as more ice is transported into the region 

and precursor restrictions take hold: Overall 

production of methamphetamine within the 

Southeast is declining. Seizure data and reports 

from law enforcement officials throughout the 

region indicate a reduction in the number of laboratories in the Southeast. In fact, NCLSS data 

show that the number of methamphetamine laboratories seized in the region decreased from 2,241 

in 2004 to 1,327 in 2005 and 521 through September 2006. The influx of Mexico-produced ice 

has rendered local production less necessary, and 

restrictions in every Southeast state limiting 

access to products containing ephedrine and 

pseudoephedrine have made production of methamphetamine more difficult. 

Mexican DTOs primary suppliers: Mexican 

DTOs supply most of the ice available in the 

Southeast. These DTOs produce the vast majority 

of the drug in laboratories in Mexico and transport 

it to markets throughout the region, often via distribution hubs, including Atlanta. The Mexican 

DTOs that distribute ice frequently are polydrug 

organizations, and they traffic ice using many of 

the same relatively secure methods and networks 

used to transport the other drugs that they distribute. Mexican DTOs supply African American, 

Caucasian, other Hispanic, and Asian distribution 

groups as well as OMGs, who sell midlevel or 

retail quantities of ice in the region. Mexican 

DTOs do not typically sell ice at the street level.

Aggressive marketing expanding ice availability: Mexican DTOs are aggressively marketing ice 

in the Southeast. Law enforcement officials report 

that Mexican DTOs frequently front pound quantities or more of the drug to local distributors in 

order to build a customer base for the drug without 

having to pay for supplies up front. Mexican 

DTOs’ willingness to take the risk of fronting 

ice—sometimes to distributors they do not even 

know—suggests that they have ready access to a 

supply and are making a concerted effort to further 

expand the market for this drug. Mexican DTOs 

are quite likely attracted to the ice market not only 

because of the profitability of selling ice, but also 
12

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

because they have strong connections to producers, 

which allow them to operate independently of 

Colombian and other suppliers (as in the cocaine 

trade) and to adjust production to meet demand.

Southwest OCDETF Region 

Increasing quantities of methamphetamine 

smuggled into the Southwest Region from 

Mexico: The amount of methamphetamine 

smuggled across the Southwest Border has 

increased considerably in recent years, resulting 

in increased transshipment and abuse of the drug 

throughout the Southwest. EPIC data show that 

the total amount of methamphetamine seized 

along the Southwest Border increased from 

1,935 kilograms in 2004 to 2,481 kilograms in 

2005. Data for 2006 are incomplete; however, 

through July 2006 officials report seizing 

approximately 602 kilograms of methamphetamine along the Southwest Border. The increase 

in methamphetamine seizures at or between 

ports of entry (POEs) on the Southwest Border 

most likely reflects increased methamphetamine 

production in Mexico since 2002. Production 

capability of Mexico-based methamphetamine 

laboratories is largely an intelligence gap; methamphetamine production in Mexico is dependent 

greatly upon the acquisition of ephedrine, particularly from China, by laboratory operators in Mexico. The amount of ephedrine available for 

methamphetamine production is unknown, and 

Mexican DTOs are not the only consumers of this 

precursor. The International Narcotics Control 

Strategy Report further indicates that Mexican 

DTOs must compete for ephedrine shipments with 

criminal groups in Southeast Asia, particularly 

Burma, that produce billions of methamphetamine 

tablets annually and also are increasing production.

Declining domestic methamphetamine 

production offset by increased production in 

Mexico: Methamphetamine production in both 

large-scale and small-scale laboratories has 

decreased significantly in the Southwest Region. 

However, methamphetamine continues to be 

produced in superlabs in southern California and 

in small-scale laboratories located throughout 

the Southwest Region. Many Mexican DTOs 

operating large-scale laboratories in southern 

California have transferred production operations to Mexico, where they can more easily 

obtain precursor chemicals, while small-scale 

domestic producers have begun to purchase 

rather than produce the drug. The methamphetamine threat will very likely remain high if producers in Mexico continue to produce enough 

methamphetamine to offset additional decreases 

in domestic production and increased demand 

for the drug in the United States.

Precursor control legislation has contributed 

to decreased methamphetamine production in 

the Southwest Region: Methamphetamine laboratory seizures have declined significantly over 

the past several years, primarily as a result of 

regulatory efforts to control precursor chemical 

diversion, the influx of powder and ice methamphetamine from Mexico, and law enforcement 

efforts. In fact, NCLSS data show that the number of methamphetamine laboratory seizures in 

the Southwest Region decreased from 1,415 in 

2003, to 955 in 2004, to 391 in 2005, and 173 

through September 2006. Most states in the 

Southwest Region currently schedule ephedrine 

or pseudoephedrine and/or have point-of-sale 

restrictions, including restrictions on quantity, 

packaging, and/or display. Local municipalities 

also have passed laws regulating precursor chemicals in parts of the region, including Cottonwood 

and Tucson, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New 

Mexico. Local precursor laws often are put in 

place where statewide regulations are not implemented or to complement state legislation. These 

laws primarily impact small-scale laboratories 

because operators of these laboratories typically 

obtain precursor chemicals from retail outlets. 

Increasing transportation and distribution of Mexico-produced methamphetamine in the region 

have offset the drop in local production, thereby 

sustaining availability of the drug.
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Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

The Southwest Region is the primary entry 

point for ice methamphetamine supplied to most 

consumer markets in the United States: Methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico is distributed in 

market areas in the Southwest Region as well as 

throughout the United States. Ice methamphetamine is becoming the predominant form of the 

drug seized in and transshipped from the region 

and may pose an even more severe threat as a 

result of increased demand, purity, and profit 

potential. Methamphetamine produced and smuggled into the Southwest Region from Mexico is 

distributed primarily from Dallas/Fort Worth, 

Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Diego to 

markets throughout the United States.

West Central OCDETF Region

Methamphetamine production has decreased 

significantly in the region; however, local production continues to pose a significant threat to 

the public and environment: NCLSS data reveal 

that seizures of methamphetamine laboratories 

decreased significantly in the West Central Region 

from 3,082 in 2004 to 1,705 in 2005 to 560 

through September 2006 as a result of a combination of factors, including increasing availability of 

Mexico-produced ice methamphetamine, aggressive law enforcement efforts, public awareness 

campaigns, and precursor chemical control legislation. Although methamphetamine production 

levels have decreased significantly, 64.7 percent 

of NDTS 2006 respondents in the West Central 

Region report that the level of methamphetamine 

production is moderate to high in their jurisdictions. According to NCLSS data, laboratory 

cleanup costs in 2005 totaled $3,989,3712

 for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in 

the West Central Region, down from $4,575,803 

in 2004.

Mexican DTOs are the primary transporters 

and wholesale distributors of methamphetamine 

in the region: Mexican DTOs and local independent dealers use sophisticated networks to transport large quantities of methamphetamine from 

Mexico and the Pacific and Southwest Regions to 

market areas in the West Central Region, typically 

by private and commercial vehicles and, to a 

lesser extent, parcel delivery services and couriers 

aboard buses, trains, and commercial aircraft. 

Mexican and Caucasian criminal groups, Caucasian and Native American local independent dealers, street gangs, and OMGs distribute midlevel 

and retail-level quantities of methamphetamine. 

Methamphetamine abuse continues to 

increase in the region: Increasing demand for 

methamphetamine in the region has been fueled in 

part by the increasing availability of ice methamphetamine supplied by Mexican traffickers. TEDS 

data indicate that the number of individuals seeking treatment for methamphetamine abuse at public treatment facilities in the West Central Region 

increased nearly 68 percent from 18,444 in 2000 

to 30,936 in 2004. CEWG reporting shows that in 

2005 and through midyear 2006, methamphetamine abuse indicators in Denver (the only West 

Central state represented in CEWG) were higher 

than those for cocaine and heroin.

Increasing availability and abuse of methamphetamine associated with increasing violence 

and property crime: Law enforcement reporting 

indicates that much of the crime throughout the 

West Central Region has a methamphetamine 

nexus. Abusers and distributors throughout the 

region increasingly commit crimes such as burglary, automobile theft, currency counterfeiting, 

home invasion, and forgery. The majority of law 

enforcement agencies in the West Central Region 

that responded to the NDTS 2006 indicate that 

methamphetamine contributes greatly to crime in 

their areas; 71.3 percent report that methamphetamine is the drug that most contributes to violent 

crime, and 74.4 percent report that methamphetamine is the drug that most contributes to property crime.

2. This figure includes the total cleanup cost for the entire state of Illinois.
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Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

Appendix A. Maps

Map 1. National Drug Threat Survey 2006 greatest drug threat as reported by state and local agencies.

Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Methamphetamine Pharmaceuticals

36.5%

8.5% 11%

3.9%

38.8%

Greatest Drug Threat

Percentage of State and Local Agencies Reporting
16

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

Map 2. National Drug Threat Survey 2006 greatest drug threat by OCDETF region.

Pacific

Pacific

Southwest

West Central

Great Lakes

Southeast

Florida/Caribbean

Mid-Atlantic

New York/New Jersey

New England

33.2% 37.6%

1.9%

15.5%

9.3%

4.1% 2.7% 0.0%

92.2%

0.6%

17.6%

1.4%

76.8%

3.5% 0.3% 54.7%

19.9%

3.9%

15.0%

4.2%

8.6%

27.6%

17.1%

6.5%

39.4%

75.6%

0.0%

12.7% 9.5% 0.4%

54.7%

0.9%

36.3%

3.0% 4.3%

47.0%

18.5%

1.6%

25.9%

4.9%

CocaineHeroin

Methamphetamine

Marijuana

Pharmaceuticals

16.2%

1.3%

74.6%

6.3% 0.6%

Greatest Drug Threat by Region

Percentage of State and Local Agencies Reporting
17

Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

Appendix B. Tables

Table 1. Trends in Percentage of Past Year Methamphetamine Use, 2002–2005

2002 2003 2004 2005

Individuals (12 and older) 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5

Adolescents (12-17) 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.7

Adults (18-25) 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5

Adults (26 and older) 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Table 2. Adolescent Trends in Percentage of Past Year Methamphetamine Use, 2000–2005 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

8th Grade 2.5 2.8 2.2 2.5 1.5 1.8

10th Grade 4.0 3.7 3.9 3.3 3.0 2.9

12th Grade 4.3 3.9 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.5

Source: Monitoring the Future.

Table 3. Federal Methamphetamine Seizures, in Kilograms, 2000–2006

Drug 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*

Methamphetamine 3,471.0 3,971.0 2,478.0 3,856.0 3,127.0 4,767.0 601.9

Source: Federal-Wide Drug Seizure System.

*Data for 2006 are incomplete.

Table 4. Methamphetamine-Related Arrests, United States, 2001–2006

Drug 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*

Methamphetamine 7,363 6,231 6,055 5,893 6,090 1,504

Source: Drug Enforcement Administration.

*Data for 2006 are incomplete.

Table 5. Average Purity of Methamphetamine Samples Tested

by Percentage, 2002–2005

2002 2003 2004 2005

Kilogram 43 66 78 80

Ounce 37 54 58 68

Gram 49 59 61 69

Source: Drug Enforcement Administration.
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19

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

Sources

In addition to the sources listed below, numerous state and local law enforcement agencies throughout 

the United States provided valuable input to this report through their participation in the National Drug 

Threat Survey. 

Executive Office of the President

Office of National Drug Control Policy

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas

Appalachia

Atlanta

Central Florida

Central Valley California

Chicago

Gulf Coast

Hawaii

Houston

Lake County

Los Angeles

Michigan

Midwest

Milwaukee

Nevada

New England

New York/New Jersey

Northern California

North Florida

North Texas

Northwest

Ohio

Oregon

Philadelphia/Camden

Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands

Rocky Mountain

South Florida

Southwest Border

Washington/Baltimore

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse

Columbia University

Partnership Attitude Tracking Study

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

United Nations International Narcotics Control Board

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Forest Service

National Forest System
20

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

U.S. Department of Defense

Defense Intelligence Agency

Joint Interagency Task Force/West

Joint Task Force

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Community Epidemiology Work Group

Monitoring the Future

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Drug Abuse Warning Network

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Treatment Episode Data Set

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Border Patrol Intelligence Center

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

U.S. Coast Guard

Maritime Intelligence Center

U.S. Department of Justice

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Western States Information Network

Criminal Division

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force

Drug Enforcement Administration

Atlanta Field Division

Boston Field Division

Caribbean Field Division

Chicago Field Division

Cocaine Signature Program

Dallas Field Division

Denver Field Division

Detroit Field Division

Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program

Domestic Monitor Program

El Paso Field Division

El Paso Intelligence Center

National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure System

Federal-Wide Drug Seizure System

Houston Field Division

Los Angeles Field Division
21

National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

Miami Field Division

National Forensic Laboratory Information System

Newark Field Division

New Orleans Field Division

New York Field Division

Office of Diversion Control

Philadelphia Field Division

Phoenix Field Division

San Diego Field Division

San Francisco Field Division

Seattle Field Division

Special Operations Division

St. Louis Field Division

System to Retrieve Information From Drug Evidence

Washington, D.C., Field Division

U.S. Department of State

International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

U.S. Government Accountability Office

U.S. Sentencing Commission
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National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

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Product No. 2006-Q0317-004 National Drug Intelligence Center

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National Methamphetamine Threat Assessment 2007

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Cover photos: DEA