Trends in use of prescription stimulants in the United States and Territories, 2006 to 2016

Fig 1A shows that amphetamine use increased 2.5 fold from 2006 (7.94 metric tons) to 2016 (19.97).

America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971

While the FDA pursued its reevaluation of amphetamine efficacy, in 1971, the BNDD took applications from firms wishing to manufacture Schedule II drugs, a procedure that required reporting of past production. According to this reporting, US firms applying for 1971 quotas manufactured 17000 kg of amphetamine base and 8000 kg of methamphetamine base in 1969. (In terms of the units used in prior voluntary FDA surveys, this figure equals about 3 billion 10-mg amphetamine sulfate tablets and 1 billion 10-mg methamphetamine hydrochloride tablets—altogether, 4 billion doses, a fair estimate of actual medical consumption in 1969 given the context of reporting)