County Tracks Steep Decline in Deaths from Meth Abuse

San Diego County taxpayers can lose about $2,000 per month on one methamphetamine addict, according to a report released Wednesday.

Despite the cost, the report—which was commissioned by the county and compares data from 2005 to 2009—showed a 43 percent decrease in deaths caused by meth in the region from 2005 to 2009.

"We have made giant strides against this battle," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who was joined by other county officials and a former meth user at a press conference announcing the details of the new report. "These are amazing results but there can be no letting up [on] meth."

The report, which was conducted by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and examines six indicators, showed:

• Treatment admissions dropped by 17 percent;
• Number of adults arrested who tested positive for meth declined by 41 percent;
• Number of arrests because of meth is down by 53 percent and;
• Meth cleanup/seizures dropped by 39 percent;
• Number of emergency department mentions declined slightly with 2,552 in 2006 compared to 2,548 in 2009.

The study also showed 900 people have died from meth in the past five years.

Jacob, who led the effort to create the county's Meth Strike Force in 1996, praised the efforts of the 70 organizations and agencies who make up the group while taking note of incidences in the region that involved the use of the drug.

"Meth use makes addicts commit the unthinkable," she said.

Jacob was joined by SANDAG's division director who oversaw the report Cynthia Burke who said one Meth abuser alone cost taxpayers $193,000.

The abuser, who was given the pseudo name "Dan," was exposed to meth at an early age. Over the course of eight years, he was arrested 10 times. Burke said half of the $193,000 was spent on putting him in jail for 526 days. He is now serving a two years in the state prison.

"This is just one case," she said. "It has its implications when you consider how many need help."

Christina Manis, a former meth user, also shared her story. Manis said she used the drug for 10 years and was arrested "numerous" times while abusing it. Now, at 27, Manis is sober, does volunteer work and gained a job.

"In my addiction, I wore a lot of different masks," she said. "Life is better on the other side."

Despite the drop in five of the six indicators of meth use, the county's Health and Human Services Agency director Nick Macchione said the drug remains a problem.

"While there has been significant progress made, we still must be vigilant about this problem," Macchione said.

According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 12.6 million people ages 12 and up have reported using meth at least once. Officials said meth users vary from age and gender, and recommend that people with an addiction or who know of someone with an addiction, call the Meth Hotline at 877-662-6384.

The full report can be read at sandag.org/cjc