Drug use reached 21-year high for arrested males in San Diego County in 2020

SAN DIEGO - Drug use was at a 21-year high for adult males arrested and booked into local detention facilities in 2020, with methamphetamine and fentanyl posing some worrying trends, according to a San Diego Association of Governments report released today.

The new SANDAG report found 82% of males surveyed tested positive for at least one illicit substance, a 3% increase from 2019. Drug use among adult females surveyed significantly decreased from the 82% in 2019 to 67% in 2020.

This represents the lowest positive rate for adult females since 2015.

The SANDAG surveyors were able to complete in...