New data released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration show admissions to substance abuse treatment involving methamphetamine and narcotic pain medications increased sharply from 2002 to 2003.

The data show methamphetamine admissions increased ten percent between 2002 and 2003. Admissions to treatment for methamphetamine as primary drug of abuse rose from 105,754 in 2002 to 116,604 in 2003. Similarly, treatment admissions for narcotic pain medications as primary drug of abuse increased 12 per cent between 2002 and 2003. Admissions to treat addiction to narcotic pain medications rose from 43,377 to 48,457. There were an additional 2,614 admissions whose primary drug of abuse was non-prescription methadone.

SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie noted: "The alarming growth of methamphetamine use and, in part, its popularity can be explained by the drug's wide availability, ease of production, low cost, and its highly addictive nature. We are working to ensure that science-based treatments are available to those in need. People can and do recover from methamphetamine dependence with treatment."

Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Utah had more than 20 percent of their admissions to treatment due to methamphetamine abuse.

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, said: "This report shows once again the terrible harms that dangerous drugs like meth inflict upon our country. Addiction is a treatable disease and through the expansion of programs like Access to Recovery, we are helping more Americans who are suffering from this disease."

Curie continued: "to help more patients start on their way to recovery from addiction to prescription narcotics, SAMHSA is working to increase the number of physicians who are trained to provide buprenorphine, the latest medication approved to treat opiate addiction."

Maine, Tennessee and West Virginia had at least ten percent of their admissions to treatment due to abuse of narcotic pain relievers.

Alcohol as a primary substance for admission to treatment dropped from over1.9 million admissions in 2002 to over1.8 million in 2003. Among those in treatment for alcohol abuse in 2003, 44 percent reported secondary drug abuse, as well. Cocaine admissions increased from 245,332 in 2002 to 249,556, but declined from 17 percent of those admitted to treatment for alcohol or drug abuse in 1993 to 14 percent in 2003.

Marijuana as a primary substance of abuse accounted for 15 percent of admissions to treatment in 2003, up from seven percent in 1993. Forty percent of marijuana admissions were between the ages of 15 and 19, a much higher percentage than for any other drug.

The data is part of the "Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Highlights 2003". The full Treatment Episode Data Set will be released later this year.

The report is available on the web at www.oas.samhsa.gov.