Following the trends in other states of America, methamphetamine and crystal meth are showing a marked increase in North Carolina also. Since the last ten years, there has been a significant increase in the volume of methamphetamine addiction in North Carolina. Though the increase has been on a statewide scale, some regions within the state show a greater prevalence of the addiction. These places include the areas of Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh. In addition to these urban areas, even several rural areas have begun showing an increase in the amount of meth abuse in North Carolina.

The drug is mainly sourced into North Carolina through the region of Georgia. The operations of trafficking are usually conducted by Mexican groups who are also responsible in a major way for clandestinely producing the substance within the state. These clandestine operations are known as meth labs which are mostly run by one or two people, usually of the same family. These clandestine operations produce a small amount of methamphetamine, but because they produce these in steady quantities, they do add to the problem of substance abuse in North Carolina. These are the areas which produce a purer form of methamphetamine which is known as crystal meth, commonly known within the state as ice.

Both methamphetamine and crystal meth are concentrated in the youth based areas of the state. They are distributed mainly in the youth nightclubs and the rave parties. That is the reason why the average age of users of crystal meth and methamphetamine in North Carolina is between 18 and 25 years.