Characteristics of admissions for primary stimulant dependence during 2001

The production and consumption of synthetic stimulants has been increasing in recent years accompanied by an increase in the number of individuals seeking treatment for synthetic stimulant "abuse."1 The misuse of stimulants is occurring at younger ages and primarily in the context of polysubstance use. This article examines the characteristics of admissions entering treatment centers that received some form of public funding in 2001 as compiled in the Treatment Episodes Data Set produced by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. It compares those admissions indicating stimulants as a primary substance of use with those admissions not listing stimulants. Findings indicated that stimulant primary admissions were younger, more frequently Caucasian, and more frequently female than nonstimulant admissions. Additionally, stimulant primary admissions had fewer prior treatment episodes and substance use referrals than the nonstimulant admissions but were more commonly referred by the criminal justice system, raising the concern that adequate screening for stimulant misuse is not occurring in health care settings.