title: Trends in primary methamphetamine-related admissions to youth residential substance abuse treatment facilities in Canada, 2005-2006 and 2009-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During the last decade, methamphetamine use and issues surrounding its toxicity have triggered major concern in the Canadian government, leading to significant changes in drug policy and funding strategies to limit the societal impact of methamphetamine-related harms. This concern appears justified by research which found in 2005-2006 that 21% of all youth admissions to inpatient substance abuse treatment centres in Canada were due primarily to methamphetamine abuse. Given these patterns of treatment use and targeted governmental initiatives, an open question is whether the demand for methamphetamine treatment found in 2005-2006 has decreased. Our study aims to provide follow-up estimates of admissions for 2009-2010, as well as important trend information for these periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a comprehensive list of all Canadian residential youth substance abuse treatment facilities. The executive director of each facility was asked about the site's annual caseload, and the proportion of cases primarily due to methamphetamine abuse within the past 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our survey data for the periods of 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 show marked reductions in admissions. In 2009-2010, we found that about 6% of all admissions were due primarily to methamphetamine abuse, a substantial drop from the 21% reported in our 2005-2006 study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show a significant national reduction in methamphetamine-related admissions. Other reports show that methamphetamine-related treatment admissions in the United States and Mexico declined sharply during 2005-2008, reportedly in association with Mexico's methamphetamine precursor chemical controls, raising the possibility that the controls may also be associated with the declines reported here.
authors: Research Assistant, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Toronto, Ontario.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Verdichevski
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Burns
authors: James K
authors: JK
authors: Cunningham
authors: Joey
authors: J
authors: Tavares
authors: Russell C
authors: RC
authors: Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine