University of Wyoming
The State of Wyoming expressed concerns that stimulant use, in particular amphetamine and methamphetamine use, was a potentially rising problem that communities and the state were having to address. WYSAC, as part of a contract with the Wyoming Department of Health, was tasked with gathering and reporting all available state-level data and information about this topic. The results from that data collection effort indicated that there was a gap in stimulant-related data. Specifically, consumption of illicit and licit stimulants remained low or was decreasing in recent years; yet, the consequences related to stimulant use were increasing.
Based on surveys of youth and adults, only small proportions of them reported having used stimulants in the past month, which has remained relatively stable over time. However, the number of admissions to treatment, methamphetamine-related arrests, and overdoses were rising. Ultimately, the report concludes that gathering more data about the risk factors related to stimulant use and misuse would bridge the knowledge gap between these divergent findings. It would also help policymakers and prevention professionals better target their support and interventions to address these concerns.
This report’s information is presented to allow the Wyoming government, community coalitions, and other stakeholders to choose and implement targeted strategies and solutions for prevention and treatment. To read the report in detail, see https://bit.ly/wystim. A condensed issue brief outlining the key findings of this report is found at https://bit.ly/short-wy-stim. For a one-page fact sheet highlighting key findings, go to https://bit.ly/wy-stim-fact.
This project is a part of the Wyoming State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW) supported by the Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division, with funds from the 2015 Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Sucess Grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).