The report defines the chemistry, effects, and abuse patterns of methamphetamine, emphasizing data from four specific sources: (1) a 1988 ethnographic study of former methamphetamine abusers from San Diego, Portland, and Dallas; (2) abuse patterns obtained from emergency rooms and medical examiners by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) from 1985 to 1987; (3) published reports and information from NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group; and (4) law enforcement information on the drug's price and purity as well as samples seized from clandestine laboratories. Data indicate that those who abuse methamphetamine are usually white, lower middle income, high school educated, young adults between the ages of 20 and 35. Most abusers begin by snorting the drug and later turn to IV injection, often sharing needles despite their knowledge of HIV transmission risks. At present the drug is being manufactured at isolated clandestine labs and poses a particular threat to small communities in western States.