From the Field: METHAMPHETAMINES IN THE HEARTLAND: A REVIEW AND INITIAL EXPLORATION

Amphetamine and methamphetamine use, already described as an epidemic in many parts of Asia, has been spreading rapidly in the United States. Although it is a major problem in a number of western cities, for most of the Midwest, East and Southeast, methamphetamine use and production are centered in more rural areas. This study examines the rise of methamphetamine use and production in the United States, paying particular attention to issues in the rural Midwest. Using data from Illinois, it is suggested that methamphetamine production is associated with weak economies and with social problems among juveniles, but not with various measures of crime.