Half a million Americans use methamphetamine every week

An estimated 12.3 million Americans, or 5% of the adult population, have used methamphetamine at least once, claims a US expert on substance misuse. He also says an estimated 600 000 people are weekly users of the drug. Alex Kral, of the non-profit scientific research and development group RTI International, was speaking at the first US national conference on methamphetamine, HIV, and hepatitis, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, last month. The conference brought together medical providers, social services, and law enforcement agencies in a bid to address the widespread misuse of the drug.