2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego County Arrestees Data from the SANDAG Substance Abuse Monitoring program in brief Research findings from the Criminal Justice Clearinghouse Cj 401 B STREET, SUITE 800 | SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4231 | T (619) 699-1900 | F (619) 699-6905 | SANDAG.ORG/CJ Board of Directors The 18 cities and county government are SANDAG serving as the forum for regional decision-making. SANDAG builds consensus; plans, engineers, and builds public transit; makes strategic plans; obtains and allocates resources; and provides information on a broad range of topics pertinent to the region’s quality of life. Chair Vice Chair Executive Director Hon. Steve Vaus Hon. Catherine Blakespear Hasan Ikhrata City of Carlsbad City of Santee Hon. Cori Schumacher, Councilmember Hon. John Minto, Mayor (A) Keith Blackburn, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Ronn Hall, Councilmember (A) Hon. Priya Bhat-Patel, Councilmember (A) Hon. Rob McNelis, Councilmember City of Chula Vista City of Solana Beach Hon. Mary Salas, Mayor Hon. David A. Zito, Councilmember (A) Hon. Steve Padilla, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jewel Edson, Mayor (A) Hon. John McCann, Councilmember (A) Hon. Kristi Becker, Councilmember City of Coronado City of Vista Hon. Richard Bailey, Mayor Hon. Judy Ritter, Mayor (A) Hon. Bill Sandke, Councilmember (A) Hon. Amanda Rigby, Deputy Mayor (A) Hon. Mike Donovan, Councilmember (A) Hon. Joe Green, Councilmember City of Del Mar County of San Diego Hon. Ellie Haviland, Mayor Hon. Jim Desmond, Vice Chair (A) Hon. Dwight Worden, Councilmember (A) Hon. Dianne Jacob, Supervisor (A) Hon. Dave Druker, Councilmember Hon. Kristin Gaspar, Supervisor City of El Cajon (A) Hon. Greg Cox, Chair Hon. Bill Wells, Mayor (A) Hon. Nathan Fletcher, Supervisor (A) Hon. Steve Goble, Deputy Mayor Advisory Members City of Encinitas Imperial County Hon. Catherine Blakespear, Mayor Hon. Jesus Eduardo Escobar, Supervisor (A) Hon. Joe Mosca, Councilmember (A) Mark Baza, Imperial County Transportation (A) Hon. Kellie Hinze, Councilmember Commission City of Escondido California Department of Transportation Hon. Paul McNamara, Mayor Toks Omishakin, Executive Director (A) Hon. Olga Diaz, Councilmember (A) Gustavo Dallarda, District 11 Director (A) Hon. Mike Morasco, Councilmember (A) Ann Fox, Deputy Director City of Imperial Beach Metropolitan Transit System Hon. Serge Dedina, Mayor Hon. Paloma Aguirre (A) Hon. Mark West, Councilmember (A) Hon. Bill Sandke (A) Hon. Paloma Aguirre, Councilmember North County Transit District City of La Mesa Hon. Tony Kranz Hon. Bill Baber, Councilmember (A) Hon. Priya Bhat-Patel (A) Hon. Kristine Alessio, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jewel Edson (A) Hon. Akilah Weber, Councilmember U.S. Department of Defense City of Lemon Grove Joe Stuyvesant, Navy Region Southwest Hon. Racquel Vasquez, Mayor Executive Director (A) Hon. Jennifer Mendoza, Councilmember (A) Steve Chung, Navy Region Southwest (A) Hon. Jerry Jones, Councilmember Port of San Diego City of National City Hon. Garry Bonelli, Commissioner Hon. Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mayor (A) Hon. Dan Malcolm, Commissioner (A) Hon. Mona Rios, Councilmember (A) Hon. Vacant San Diego County Water Authority City of Oceanside Mel Katz, Director (A) Gary Croucher, Vice Chair Hon. Jack Feller, Deputy Mayor (A) Vacant (A) Hon. Christopher Rodriguez, Councilmember (A) Hon. Ryan Keim, Councilmember San Diego County Regional Airport Authority City of Poway April Boling, Chair (A) Paul Robinson Hon. Steve Vaus, Mayor (A) Hon. John Mullin, Councilmember Southern California Tribal (A) Hon. Caylin Frank, Councilmember Chairmen’s Association City of San Diego Hon. Cody Martinez, Chairman, Hon. Kevin Faulconer, Mayor Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation (A) Hon. Mark Kersey, Councilmember Hon. Edwin “Thorpe” Romero, Chairman, (A) Hon. Vivian Moreno, Councilmember Barona Band of Mission Indians Hon. Georgette Gomez, Council President Mexico (A) Hon. Monica Montgomery, Councilmember Hon. Carlos González Gutiérrez (A) Hon. Barbara Bry, Council President Pro Tem Cónsul General of Mexico City of San Marcos (A) Hon. Mario Figueroa Hon. Rebecca Jones, Mayor Deputy Cónsul General of Mexico (A) Hon. Sharon Jenkins, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Natalia Figueroa, Vice Consul (A) Hon. Maria Nunez, Councilmember As of June 23, 2020 2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego County Arrestees 2 Introduction Interviews with adult and juvenile arrestees regarding drug use and other risky behavior have been conducted by SANDAG since 1987. As part of this effort, all arrestees who are randomly selected to participate in the Substance Abuse Monitoring (SAM) program and report methamphetamine (meth) use in the past 30 days are asked to answer additional questions (i.e., the meth addendum). The meth addendum was added to the research protocol because meth has consistently been one of the most commonly used illicit drugs by arrestees in San Diego County and the risk the drug poses to the user, children in the household, and the community in general. This CJ In Brief summarizes data from these interviews and is the fourth in the series of CJ Bulletins, In Briefs, and Flashes for this program from this most recent calendar year 2019. METH USE In 2019, the percent of adult males positive for meth remained the same as in 2018 (55%), but increased from 62% to 66% for adult females, a new 20-year high. The proportion of juveniles positive for meth was up in 2019 (11%) from 2018 (10%). 62% 66% 55% 55% 28% 29% 11% 10% 11% Adult males positive meth Adult females positive meth Juveniles positive meth 2000 2018 2019 Percent of arrestees positive for meth, 2000-2019 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Adult males 28% 32% 34% 38% 43% 44% 36% 24% 20% 22% 25% 26% 31% 41% 40% 48% 55% 55% 55% 55% Adult females 29% 37% 37% 47% 42% 51% 47% 44% 31% 38% 33% 39% 47% 46% 53% 52% 58% 58% 62% 66% Juveniles 11% 11% 12% 15% 13% 21% 10% 8% 10% 6% 8% 4% 4% 10% 13% 8% 14% 11% 10% 11% 2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego County Arrestees 3 AVAILABILITY OF METH A 5-year comparison shows that a smaller percentage of arrestees in 2019, compared to 2015, said that the quality of meth was the same or better this year; more said the price was lower; and around the same percent said it was more available (just under half). 53% 48% 45% 46% 45% 41% “I wish I would have never tried it. It caused so many issues in my life.” 33-year-old male Quality was same or better Price was lower More available arrested for 2015 2019 obstructing justice According to law enforcement, over the past several years, drug trafficking organizations in Mexico responded to legislation that banned the legal importation of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine by changing their production method to the P2P method. Since the production process is continually improving in efficiency, prices can be lowered, and quality maintained. In “super labs,” multi-ton quantities of meth are now being produced daily. Method for Pattern of use Duration and obtaining meth (on average) mode of use How do “typical” meth-using How often and how How long and how arrestees get the drug? much do they use? do they use it? 78% usually smoke it (alone or 97% purchased in San Diego County Use 3 times in a day when they use with another drug) 38% have sold meth or acted Use 15 days in a row during 40% have also snorted it in as a middleman in last year longest run in past 30 days the past year 41% have a main source Use 1 gram of meth each day they use 25% have injected it in the past year 62% usually buy from someone On average (median), adults had else when main source not available used meth for 15 years, with a range of less than a year to 53 years 60% have bought from someone they didn’t know 33% have carried a weapon with them when they got meth 2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego County Arrestees 4 LOCATION OF METH PURCHASE Most arrestees reported they bought meth in the Central or East Suburban major statistical areas of the County in 2019. 72% of those employed or who were a student reported using meth before going to work or school. The most common job types reported by these arrestees were construction, food service, and unskilled labor. DEMAND FOR METH According to arrestees involved in distribution, 53% said the demand had increased in 2019 compared to one year ago. Decreased 12% “I regret doing. Increased If I knew how it Same 53% 35% was going to get me I would have never used.” 39-year-old female arrested for a drug offense 2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego County Arrestees 5 Study background “It sucks. It hooks anybody This SANDAG CJ In Brief, 2019 Methamphetamine Use by San Diego who uses it.” County Arrestees, is part of a series of reports highlighting findings from data collected as part of the SAM program. As part of this program, adult 26-year-old female and juvenile arrestees are approached within 48 hours of their arrest (and arrested for a booking) to participate in an interview regarding their drug use and other parole violation recent behaviors. In 2019, a total of 482 adults were interviewed as part of SAM, regardless if they provided a urine sample. Of these, 250 (52%) reported having used meth in the past 30 days. The meth addendum was completed with 242 adults, including 146 males and 96 females. For the 109 juveniles interviewed, 9 (8%) reported meth use in the past 30 days and all 9 completed an addendum, including 7 boys and 2 girls. Acknowledgements “Don’t use it This effort would not be possible without the cooperation of the San Diego because it’s County Sheriff’s and Probation Departments, and the funding support the devil drug.