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Maine Methamphetamine Prevention Project

What is the Maine Methamphetamine Prevention Project?

Maine ’s Methamphetamine Prevention Project is an education effort designed to:

  • Increase awareness about the harm associated with methamphetamine production and use.
  • Increase capacity of key institutions and community members to prevent the production and use of methamphetamine in Maine.

What is the Current Status of Methamphetamine in Maine?

  • We have seen indicators that methamphetamine use is stabilizing in Maine.
    • Lab Seizures: In 2005 and 2006, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency made 9 methamphetamine lab seizures in the following counties: 3 in Aroostook, 3 in Androscoggin, 1 in Cumberland and 2 in Penobscot (total of 5 labs in 2005 and 4 labs in 2006).
      • 2008 - 4 labs (Bangor, Veazie, Milford and Bath)
      • 2009 - 1 lab (New Vinyard)
      • 2010 - 6 labs (Veazie, Auburn, Lewiston, and three in Houlton)
    • In 2006, there were a total of 38 arrests by the MDEA pertaining to methamphetamine and in 2007, there were a total of 35 arrests  MDEA's arrests related to methamphetamine dropped to eight in 2008 and were back up to 27 in 2009. In 2010, MDEA Agents made 34 methamphetamine arrests and there have been 10 arrests in the first six months of 2011.
    • In 2011, 47 admissions were for methamphetamine as the primary drug of choice and 78 were for methamphetamines as secondary/tertiary.
  • In other states it has been found that rural areas are prime locations for meth labs. With Maine’s vast rural landscape, this is an area of concern for our communities. However, MDEA's experience has been to see methamphetamine manufacturing in extreme rural areas, such as the Allagash, as well as relatively urban Lewiston and Auburn.
  • Maine 's close proximity to Canada has been found to contribute to easy trafficking of the substances used in the manufacture of meth, and increasingly meth in pill form. Methamphetamine tablets continue to be a significant problem in far northern Maine. The MDEA district task force serving Aroostook County has seized over 4,500 such tablets from July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011.
  • Other states have found that the most effective method of reducing the number of home labs is to restrict the sale of the key ingredient, pseudoephedrine. As of November 1, 2005 Maine law restricts the sale of this precursor ingredient to pharmacies only. The Federal Combat Meth Act (Word) also places restrictions on products containing pseudoephedrine.
  • In September 2011, An Act to Further Restrict the Availability of Methamphetamine and Amphetamine Pills went into effect. This law increases potential penalties for possession and trafficking of specific quantities of Methamphetamine and Amphetamine tablets. Previously, all sentencing enhancements were based upon weight.

If you suspect methamphetamine related activity always put your own safety first. Leave the scene immediately and contact your local police or sheriff for assistance.