Understanding the Methamphetamine Crisis: Insights from Dr. Mark Fuller at the 2025 RCPA Conference

The Rise of Methamphetamine in America

Methamphetamine — also known as “meth,” “crystal,” “ice,” or “glass” — is a highly addictive stimulant that dramatically impacts both the brain and body. Once largely associated with small-scale “home labs” in the early 2000s, meth production has evolved into a global industry dominated by transnational criminal organizations.

According to Dr. Fuller, much of today’s meth supply originates from large industrial facilities in Mexico, where advanced production techniques have replaced the volatile “kitchen labs” once common in U.S. communities. This shift has resulted in purity levels exceeding 90% and an abundant, low-cost supply flooding U.S. markets.

The Southwest border remains the main port of entry, with trafficking operations utilizing cars, commercial trucks, and even parcel delivery services to move product northward. DEA data shows methamphetamine seizures at the U.S. southern border have climbed from 112,000 kilograms in 2019 to more than 133,000 kilograms by 2024.
 

Health, Social, and Economic Consequences

Methamphetamine use affects nearly every organ system in the body. Even small doses increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate; long-term use can result in cognitive decline, cardiovascular failure, and severe dental deterioration (“meth mouth”).

Beyond health, the social costs are staggering. Communities across Pennsylvania and the U.S. are experiencing increased homelessness, unemployment, and strain on child welfare systems linked to meth-related psychosis and overdose. In 2021 alone, over 32,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved stimulants such as methamphetamine.

Dr. Fuller emphasized that meth use is no longer confined to any single demographic. While once concentrated in the western states, rising rates are now being recorded in the Midwest and East — including in Pennsylvania. Populations at higher risk include those facing housing instability, justice involvement, or co-occurring substance use challenges, especially with fentanyl contamination.
 

Treatment and Policy Challenges

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction. However, Dr. Fuller underscored that evidence-based behavioral therapies — such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Contingency Management — can be highly effective. These approaches focus on building coping strategies, preventing relapse, and rewarding recovery progress.

He called for a multi-level public health response that includes:

• Expanding access to treatment programs
• Integrating harm reduction efforts (such as syringe exchanges and fentanyl test strips)
• Strengthening interagency coordination among CDC, SAMHSA, and DEA 
• Promoting education and prevention initiatives in high-risk communities
   

A Call to Action

Methamphetamine use represents a growing national crisis — one intertwined with the ongoing opioid epidemic. Dr. Fuller urged healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders to respond proactively with science-based, compassionate approaches that reduce stigma and expand treatment capacity.

As he concluded at the RCPA Conference: