Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Copyright: 2002 San Francisco Examiner Contact: http://www.examiner.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/389 STATE'S METH WAR GOES TO THE AIR SACRAMENTO (AP) -- The war against methamphetamine will hit the Central Valley airways soon in messages intended to inform the public and enlist their help. Gov. Gray Davis said the state needs to develop zero tolerance for meth production as he announced the series of public service announcements Wednesday. "Money by itself is not going to win the battle of methamphetamine," Davis said. "We need to get more information to the general public and more information from the general public." The television spots, which will start airing this month in Kern, Fresno, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties, seek to educate people about the dangers of meth and how to help police identify meth labs and distributors. The ads ask tipsters to call a toll-free number, 1-866-METH-LAB. One of the ads, which depicts a child, describes how toxic chemicals used to make meth can harm a person. Children are present in the homes of about 30 percent of labs busted, Davis said. About 80 percent of all meth manufactured in the United States comes from California, much of it from the Central Valley, according to state and federal law enforcement statistics. The state has spent about $30 million for extra personnel and equipment to fight meth production, Davis said. Another $30 million has been earmarked in the next two years, including $250,000 for the public education campaign. California will also get four new Drug Enforcement Agents to help in the state's anti-methamphetamine task force, Rep. Cal Dooley, D- Visalia, said. Agents who had previously been assigned to area were pulled after Sept. 11 events to help fight terrorism, Dooley said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D