Methamphetamine is available in small quantities in Massachusetts, but the drug is not a significant threat to users or society. Some reporting occasionally suggests that methamphetamine might be growing in popularity in New England, but the region has yet to see a widespread increase in trafficking, distribution, or use. Methamphetamine production occurs in Massachusetts on only a very small scale.

Abuse of methamphetamine is very limited in Massachusetts. Less than 1 percent of all treatment admissions in the first three quarters of FY1999 reported using amphetamines in the month before admission. Treatment providers and needle exchange program workers report that methamphetamine use is uncommon among their clients. According to DAWN data, ED methamphetamine mentions in Boston were very low in the 1990s (84 mentions from 1990 to 1998, an average of 9.3 mentions per year).

Most methamphetamine users are students and young adults, especially those who frequent rave parties or who are familiar with "crystal methamphetamine" from the U.S. West Coast.⁴¹ Of Massachusetts high school students assessed by the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, 8.3 percent reported ever using methamphetamine, ranking the drug fourth behind marijuana (50.2%), inhalants (14.4%), and cocaine (9.6%) and ahead of steroids and heroin. The patterns of use were similar in Boston, but the user percentages were markedly lower: 3.1 percent reported ever using methamphetamine, again ranking behind marijuana (38.2%), inhalants (7.0%), and cocaine (3.8%) and ahead of steroids and heroin. Anecdotal reporting indicates most regular methamphetamine users live in outlying and rural areas of the state and include members of biker gangs and other traditional users.

Some reporting suggests that methamphetamine's popularity might be growing in New England. However, Massachusetts has not had a widespread increase in transportation or distribution activity. Reporting indicates methamphetamine is available in limited quantities in Boston. According to FDSS drug seizure data, very minor amounts of methamphetamine were seized in Massachusetts from FY1996 to FY1999. The number of amphetamine submissions to the state's drug analysis laboratory has been negligible as well. The Boston Police Department reports little to no distribution of methamphetamine, and the Massachusetts State Police report that methamphetamine seizures are infrequent.

Methamphetamine prices have been stable at $10,000 to $24,000 per pound, $800 to $1,900 per ounce, and $70 to $200 per gram.

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Violence

Methamphetamine is an insignificant problem in Massachusetts, and therefore violence related to methamphetamine is negligible.

Methamphetamine production occurs in Massachusetts, but on a very small scale. According to El Paso Intelligence Center methamphetamine laboratory seizure data, only six laboratories were seized in Massachusetts from October 1992 to December 1999, and only one was seized in the last 5 years of that period. DEA reports two methamphetamine laboratory seizures in the state since 1997: the first was in Chicopee (in western Massachusetts) on December 3, 1999; the second was in Orange (north-central Massachusetts) on February 26, 2000. An ONDCP report also cites a 1999 laboratory seizure in Gloucester, northeast of Boston on the coast. All laboratories seized in Massachusetts were capable of producing only multiounce quantities of methamphetamine.

Traditionally, OMGs controlled methamphetamine trafficking in Massachusetts almost exclusively. The Hells Angels and the Outlaws are the most significant OMGs in the state, and both have been known to transport and distribute methamphetamine. Street gangs, including La Familia and the Latin Kings in Worcester County, now are involved in local and interstate methamphetamine trafficking as well.

Most methamphetamine in Massachusetts arrives from California and the southwestern United States by mail. Law enforcement in Boston reports some minor shipments of methamphetamine arriving from California in powdered (not crystal) form.

Methamphetamine distribution is very limited in Massachusetts. Distribution appears to be dominated by the same groups involved in transportation: the Hells Angels and Outlaws motorcycle gangs, and La Familia and the Latin Kings street gangs.

End Notes

41. "Crystal meth" is a very pure, smokable, crystal form of d-methamphetamine often referred to as "ice." Most use in the United States occurs in Hawaii, California, and elsewhere in the West.

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