Some of the key concepts the Task Force used to guide its proceedings include the following:

• Methamphetamine is a dangerous, addictive drug, and the population of users is not well defined and is expanding.
  
• There is a lack of data about the prevalence of methamphetamine use and abuse.
  
• There is no single source country or single specific trafficking route for methamphetamine.
  
• The clandestine laboratories where methamphetamine is produced domestically pose significant hazards to law enforcement officials, nearby residents, and, through environmental hazards, the general public.
  
• Methamphetamine can be destructive to the human body, affecting neurological, behavioral, and psychological functioning long after use has stopped.
  
• The precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine are relatively inexpensive, widely available, easy to transport, and difficult to regulate.
  
• Episodes of violent behavior have been associated with methamphetamine use.
  
• There is a general lack of public understanding about methamphetamine, including its risks and consequences, requiring public education efforts.
  
• Information for treatment providers on effective strategies has not been disseminated as widely as necessary and has not been disseminated effectively to all of the various providers involved with methamphetamine abusers.
  
• Methamphetamine abuse in rural and suburban areas presents a challenge for treatment providers in terms of resources and training.