Drug overdose deaths from methamphetamine use in the U.S. have increased dramatically in the past decade, according to a new government report released on Wednesday. Since 2011, the report found, annual rates of deaths from methamphetamine overdose have increased across all demographic groups in America and are especially high among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The findings highlight that opioids are not the only drug that has caused a record increase in overdose deaths in recent years.
The report was the work of scientists at the National Drug Abuse Institute (NIDA) and is based on mortality data collected by the federal government.
Opioids such as fentanyl and heroin continue to account for the majority of overdose deaths annually, with deaths increasing almost every year since 2010. In 2019, just over 70,000 overdose deaths were reported, with the assumption that fentanyl is involved in more than half of these deaths (often several drugs are involved in a single death). But scientists and public health experts have noticed a corresponding increase in deaths from stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. About 16,000 deaths in 2019 involved psychostimulants with the potential for abuse, a category that excludes cocaine and largely accounts for methamphetamine deaths.
According to the new report, Published in JAMA Psychiatry, the overall methamphetamine death rate in America jumped five times between 2011 and 2018.
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In 2011, about 1.3 out of every 100,000 Americans died from methamphetamine; in 2018, that number increased to 7.3 out of every 100,000 Americans. This increase was especially pronounced in American Indians and Alaskan natives, who were already more likely to die of methamphetamine before the recent increase. In 2011, 4.5 out of every 100,000 people in this group died of methamphetamine; in 2018, that number increased to 20.9 per 100,000. Meanwhile, methamphetamine-related deaths are also rising among groups that seemed to rarely use the drug before, especially black Americans. Only 0.4 deaths per 100,000 were seen in this group in 2011, but the rate jumped tenfold to 4 deaths per 100,000 in 2018 – representing the largest isolated increase seen across all racial groups. Deaths were highest among men in all racial groups, but rates among women have started to increase rapidly since 2014-2015.
“Although much attention is focused on the opioid crisis, a methamphetamine crisis has been discreet, but actively gaining momentum – particularly among American Indians and Alaskan natives, who are disproportionately affected by a range of health conditions,” said the senior study author, Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, in a declaration released by the agency.
One likely reason why deaths related to stimulants have increased in recent years is because people often use other drugs at the same time, including the very potent opioid fentanyl. But there is evidence that the use of methamphetamine in particular is growing regardless of trends in opioid use. Unfortunately, the options for treating the meth use disorder are extremely limited. There are no approved drugs to help people trying to get rid of methamphetamine to control their withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Last week, however, research led by NIDA evidence found that drug combination therapy can provide a modest benefit for treating these symptoms specifically for methamphetamine users, combined with standard counseling.
Specialists said and initial data suggests that 2020 will have been an even worse year for fatal drug overdoses, which presumably will include an increase in meth-related deaths as well. While there is hope that greater access to treatment and support services may start to turn the tide and decrease overdose deaths, it is likely that many more people will continue to die from methamphetamine and other drugs in the years to come.