First Time Users of Methamphetamines (1965 - 2003)

Trends in Initiation of Non-Therapeutic Methamphetamine Use (1965 - 2003)

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Table 4.14A Numbers (in Thousands) of Persons Who Initiated Nonmedical Use of Methamphetamine in the United States, Their Mean Age at First Use, and Rates of First Use (Per 1,000 Person-Years of Exposure): 1965-2003, Based on 2002-2004 NSDUHs
YEAR NUMBER OF INITIATES (1,000s) MEAN AGE AGE-SPECIFIC RATES1
All Ages Under 18 18 or Older 12-17 18-25
1965 28 * * * * *
1966 97 35 62 19.4 1.6 2.8
1967 112 62 50 17.3 2.9 2.2
1968 138 65 73 17.6 2.9 3.2
1969 241 120 121 18.8 5.3 4.1
1970 279 96 184 18.8 4.2 7.1
1971 442 153 289 19.0 6.5 10.1
1972 349 137 212 18.1 5.7 7.9
1973 371 145 226 18.9 6.1 7.1
1974 364 148 216 18.3 6.2 7.6
1975 382 151 231 18.9 6.3 7.7
1976 403 180 223 18.8 7.6 6.9
1977 417 179 238 18.7 7.7 7.1
1978 322 127 195 19.0 5.4 6.3
1979 465 237 228 18.0 10.7 7.1
1980 398 174 224 18.7 8.0 6.6
1981 379 150 229 19.5 7.1 6.0
1982 375 139 236 19.3 6.5 7.0
1983 369 102 267 20.5 4.9 7.2
1984 324 116 208 19.4 5.7 5.9
1985 320 107 214 20.8 5.3 5.3
1986 330 124 206 19.7 6.3 6.0
1987 321 96 225 21.4 4.9 5.3
1988 257 83 174 20.6 4.3 4.8
1989 253 57 196 22.3 2.9 5.2
1990 211 52 159 21.8 2.6 4.1
1991 231 51 180 22.4 2.6 4.4
1992 215 88 127 20.4 4.4 3.2
1993 286 98 188 21.0 4.9 5.0
1994 296 103 193 20.8 5.0 5.2
1995 345 126 219 20.9 5.8 6.2
1996 327 122 205 20.9 5.5 5.7
1997 336 130 206 20.1 5.7 5.8
1998 352 140 212 20.8 6.0 5.2
1999 308 112 196 20.9 4.6 5.2
2000 337 139 198 19.8 5.7 5.5
2001 362 157 205 19.3 6.3 5.7
20022 343 140 203 19.9 5.5 5.1
20033 363 132 231 22.0 5.2 4.5
*Low precision; no estimate reported.
-- Not available.
NOTE: Comparisons between years, particularly between recent estimates and those from 10 or more years prior, should be made with caution due to potential bias from reporting and other sources.
1 The numerator of each rate is the number of persons in the age group who initiated use of the drug in the specified year, while the denominator is the person-time exposure of persons in the age group measured in thousands of years.
2 Estimated using 2003 and 2004 data only.
3 Estimated using 2004 data only.
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

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