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19 January 2003 - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Meth deaths edge up, but not as high as earlier years
Strike Force offers its annual report

By Luis Monteagudo Jr.

The number of methamphetamine-related deaths in San Diego County rose slightly in 2001 over the previous year, and it was the second consecutive year that such deaths increased, a report released last week shows.

In 2001, methamphetamine-related deaths increased to 145 – nine more than in 2000. And the 2000 figure of 136 deaths compares with the 1999 figure of 108.

Still, the 2001 death figures are not as high as other years. County officials have been tracking the meth data since 1995, and they recorded a high of 156 deaths in 1997.

County officials could not offer an explanation for the 2001 increase in deaths, but they said the report also showed some good news.

For example, the number of arrests for possession and sales of meth dropped 7 percent, from 6,820 to 6,372.

“ It’s mixed news,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “It does underline that meth is still a major problem.”

Jacob and other members of the San Diego County Methamphetamine Strike Force spoke after the release of an annual report from the strike force.

The county Board of Supervisors created the coalition of local, state and federal officials in 1996, at Jacob’s urging, because of increased reports of methamphetamine use and related crimes.

The strike force works to coordinate meth prevention and treatment programs, and to raise public awareness about the drug’s effect on social ills.

Issuing the annual report is part of the task force’s public awareness effort. It contains figures for 2001, the latest year for which data is available.

The report showed the number of emergency room patients who said they had used meth dropped by 10 percent in 2001, from 747 to 673.

The number of meth labs that were seized in the county dropped 53 percent at the same time, from 47 to 22.

“ Although we will never have total success, we have held our own and have done better than most,” said county Undersheriff Jack Drown.

The report showed that methamphetamine appears to be the drug of choice for substance abusers. Fifty-seven percent of the people sentenced for drug crimes were using methamphetamine, compared with 13 percent for cocaine, 11 percent for heroin and 9 percent for marijuana.