Crystal Meth Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) is an twelve-step program of recovered and recovering methamphetamine addicts. Participants meet in local groups of varying sizes in order to stay clean and help others recover from methamphetamine addiction. CMA encourages complete abstinence from methamphetamine, alcohol, inhalants, and all other drugs not taken as prescribed. Founded in West Hollywood, California, CMA now has a presence in over 100 metropolitan areas of the United States, as well as parts of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In large metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC, CMA is largely composed of gay men, reflecting the use of crystal meth in urban gay communities, although they do not exclude others from participating. It has become a drug of choice in gay clubs and circuit parties. In 2005, a Los Angles clinic estimated that one out of three gay or bisexual HIV-positive men admitted to using crystal. As many report that crystal lowers inhibitions, some believe it increases the chances of engaging in unprotected sex and sharing needles.

A study of CMA participants in Chicago found that after three months of recovery their reported number of sexual partners had dropped from seven to less than one. Similarly, self-reports of unprotected anal intercourse when using crystal dropped by two-thirds. In a six month follow up, 64% had remained abstinent from methamphetamines while an additional 20% had used only once.

In 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report estimating 12 million people, age 12 and over, had used methamphetamine &mdash; 600,000 of which claimed to be current users. They further estimated a growth rate of approximately 300,000 new users per year.