Meth Addiction Statistics in Palm Desert, California
Methamphetamine addiction is still a significant concern in Palm Desert, California, and the broader Coachella Valley region. A 2019 survey by The Desert Sun revealed that 55 percent of 200 surveyed homeless individuals in the Coachella Valley reported substance abuse, including meth addiction. The consequences of meth addiction are spreading through neighboring counties as well, highlighting the drug’s destructive reach.
In Orange County, meth addiction accounted for 44% of treatment admissions in 2022, according to the local health agency. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County has experienced a sharp increase in meth-related deaths, with a 52% rise between 2019 and 2021. Riverside County is historically referred to as the “methamphetamine capital of the United States.” A 2001 report by the National Drug Intelligence Center highlighted the prevalence of meth super labs in the region, such as the discovery of a lab in Riverside County in 2000 that yielded nearly 400 pounds of methamphetamine. It’s clear that there is an extensive nature of meth addiction, and the consequences sweeping across Southern California, including near Palm Desert, are detrimental.