Escalation of methamphetamine-related crime and fatalities in the Dresden region, Germany, between 2005 and 2011.

Methamphetamine (MA), a central nervous system stimulating recreational drug, is a worldwide problem related to crime as well as forensic and health aspects. The data, exemplarily presented in this study for the Dresden region, Saxony, Germany, demonstrate the escalation of MA-related crime and fatalities between 2005 and 2011. Easy availability and an attractive price of MA in the Czech Republic are responsible for both the increase of the occurrence of MA in relation to the entire drug crime as well as the increase of the occurrence of MA-positive cases of driving under influence (DUI). Higher percentage of very pure MA on the Saxon drug market since 2010 seems to be the reason for the fatalities directly caused by MA in 2010 and 2011.