Demand for Substance Abuse Treatment Related to Use of Crystal Methamphetamine in Ontario: an Observational Study

Concerns about methamphetamine/crystal methamphetamine (MA) have featured prominently in the Canadian media and on addiction treatment agency agendas. We examined MA admissions at addiction treatment agencies to determine if a service gap existed. In 2006, all addiction treatment agencies (n=124) in Ontario, Canada were invited to complete an on-line survey. The provincial database provided admissions data for 2006-2008. Amongst participants (n=100), 53% reported an increase in clients with MA problems between 2004 and 2005. Nine percent considered MA to be a significant problem and 60% indicated that MA was a minor problem or not a problem in 2005. Forty-seven percent of participants said that MA problems were more common among males and 60% of MA clients were aged 16-24. Most (89%) agencies integrated MA clients into regular programs and 73% had not considered developing specialized MA programs. MA admissions peaked at 2.4% of admissions in 2005 and dropped to a lower, stable percent (2006-2008). Media and public alarm about a MA 'epidemic' is not consistent with admissions data or agency experience. Consideration of objective evidence before demands for additional resources is necessary.