A new study has revealed that deaths from methamphetamine use in the United States increased 61 times between 1999 and 2021, marking a significant public health crisis. Researchers believe that understanding the gender differences in these fatalities could help improve harm reduction strategies and lead to better treatment outcomes.

Rising Mortality and Gender Differences

Andrew Yockey, assistant professor of public health at the University of Mississippi and co-author of the study, emphasised the importance of designing interventions based on gender differences in substance use. “We know that men are more likely to use almost every substance except for tranquilizers, and we found that to be true with methamphetamine,” Yockey said. “Women, however, tend to have better treatment outcomes, while men are less likely to seek help. If interventions take these factors into account, we can improve outcomes.” The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine by Yockey and Rachel Hoopsick, assistant professor of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, highlights the growing crisis of methamphetamine-related deaths in the United States.

While men still have higher rates of methamphetamine-related mortality, the gap between genders is narrowing. Between 1999 and 2021, male deaths involving methamphetamine increased by a factor of 58.8, while female deaths increased by a factor of 65.3. “This narrowing is not happening because male deaths are decreasing,” Hoopsick explained. “Instead, female mortality is rising at an even faster rate.”

The Role of Synthetic Opioids

The steepest increase in methamphetamine deaths occurred between 2019 and 2021, which researchers attribute to the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing presence of synthetic opioids in the drug supply. Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, carfentanil, and xylazine are increasingly being mixed with methamphetamine, significantly increasing overdose risks. Yockey noted that opioid use has shifted in recent years, with synthetic opioids replacing traditional opioids as the primary cause of fatal overdoses. “When we look at methamphetamine-related deaths, most now involve multiple substances,” he said. “The most concerning trend is that methamphetamine is frequently laced with synthetic opioids, which makes overdoses far more likely.”

The study found that among men, the percentage of deaths involving both methamphetamine and heroin or synthetic opioids rose from 13.1 percent to 61.5 percent over the study period.

Mississippi and the National Impact

The Mississippi Department of Health reported a 182 percent increase in drug overdose deaths between 2011 and 2021. During this period, deaths involving synthetic opioids rose from 16 to 474, a nearly 30-fold increase.

Yockey and his co-authors stress that these figures highlight the urgent need for improved harm reduction strategies, particularly in regions experiencing the highest overdose rates.

“Harm reduction is a concept we discuss in the United States, but we have yet to implement it effectively,” Yockey said. “Supervised environments, needle exchange programs, and access to clean syringes are measures that allow people to use drugs more safely. We need to see more of these initiatives, especially in places like Mississippi.”

The Need for Policy Change

Hoopsick argues that U.S. drug policies remain overly punitive, focusing on criminal punishment rather than harm reduction. She believes that a better understanding of gender differences in substance use could encourage policymakers to adopt strategies that prioritise prevention and intervention over incarceration.

“A harm reduction approach would be far more effective than the harsh punitive measures currently in place,” Hoopsick said. “If we want to address this crisis, we need policies that support safer substance use practices and reduce the stigma around addiction treatment.” Unlike opioids and alcohol use disorder, there are currently no FDA-approved medications to assist with stimulant withdrawal, further complicating recovery for people who use methamphetamine. “There are effective medications that help manage cravings for opioids and alcohol, but there is nothing comparable for stimulants,” Hoopsick said. “This makes harm reduction efforts even more critical because people cannot simply be placed on medication and expected to recover.”

Future Research on Methamphetamine and Suicide

As part of their ongoing work, Yockey, Hoopsick, and Hannah Allen, executive director of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing, will conduct a study examining the relationship between methamphetamine use and suicide in ten rural Mississippi counties. The research team will collaborate with advocacy groups, medical professionals, and narcotics bureaus to gather data and provide resources for affected communities. “This project will allow us to gather both quantitative and qualitative data while partnering with community organisations to support harm reduction initiatives,” Yockey said. “Our goal is to reduce methamphetamine use and improve treatment options for people at risk of suicide in rural Mississippi.” The findings from this study underscore the growing dangers of methamphetamine use in the United States and the urgent need for harm reduction policies to address rising mortality rates.

Republished courtesy of University of Mississippi

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