Assume that you have just been appointed to a community-based committee that is looking into drug problems. A high school student on the committee has just returned from a residential treatment program and reports that methamphetamine use has become “very common” in local high schools. Some members of the committee want to call in some experts immediately to give school-wide assemblies describing the dangers of methamphetamine. You have asked for a little time to check out the student’s story to find out what you can about the actual extent of use in the community and report back to the group in a month.
Your assignment is to: Make a list of potential information sources and the type of information each might provide (include at least 10 items in your list). How close do you think you could come to making an estimate of how many current methamphetamine users there are in your community? Do you think it would be above or below the national average?
Full Answer Section
- Methamphetamine Anonymous (MA): MA is a support group for people who are recovering from meth addiction. MA groups can provide data on the number of people who are seeking help for meth addiction in the community.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a federal agency that conducts research on drug abuse. NIDA's website provides data on meth use nationwide.
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is a federal agency that provides treatment for substance abuse. SAMHSA's website provides data on meth use in treatment programs nationwide.
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): The NSDUH is a national survey that collects data on drug use among Americans. The NSDUH can be used to estimate the prevalence of meth use nationwide.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): TEDS is a national database that collects data on substance abuse treatment admissions. TEDS can be used to estimate the number of people who are seeking treatment for meth addiction nationwide.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): The DEA is a federal agency that enforces drug laws. The DEA's website provides data on meth seizures nationwide.
I think it would be possible to come up with a fairly accurate estimate of how many current methamphetamine users there are in the community. By using a variety of sources, such as law enforcement data, treatment data, and community surveys, it would be possible to get a good sense of the scope of the problem. I would expect the number of meth users in the community to be above the national average, as meth use has been on the rise in recent years.
It is important to note that there is no single source of information that will provide a complete picture of meth use in the community. By using a variety of sources, it is possible to get a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. This information can then be used to develop effective prevention and treatment programs.