Pubdate: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2002 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Diana Baldwin STATE ONE OF FOUR CHOSEN AS SITES FOR METH SUMMIT Oklahoma is one of four states chosen to host a summit this year to discuss ways to prevent and reduce methamphe tamine use, it was announced Monday. The Oklahoma County district attorneys office has been selected to host a countywide methamphetamine summit this summer. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Adminis tration, National Crime Prevention Council and Community Oriented Polic ing Services has created a partnership with District Attorney Wes Lane to de velop a plan to prevent and reduce meth amphetamine use. Asa Hutchinson, DEA administrator, said, Today, Oklahoma County is ranked No. 1 in the state for methamphe tamine lab investigations and use. Lane said he began promoting Okla homa County for this program in Sep tember while he was in Washington. We are just thrilled the district attor neys office has been chosen, Lane said. Federal officials will help with the summit, and also will provide technical assistance to Oklahoma County for 1 1/2 years, Lane said. The goal of the summit is to create a comprehensive strategic plan for meth amphetamine prevention, treatment, en forcement, education and continuing care needs for this area. Lane has invited about 40 people to the first planning meeting at 2 p.m. today CM+NT tue., cq. photo assignment made for press conference at 1:30 p.m. in the ceremonial courtroom on the eighth floor of the Oklahoma County Court house. Nationally, as in Oklahoma County, the rise in the number of meth amphetamine labs is largely be cause of local entrepreneurs who operate on the periphery of the methamphetamine market, Hutchinson said. These local entrepreneurs exploit the continuing demand for the drug by producing smaller amounts of meth in less complex laboratories - often their home kitchens - with household products purchased at a local store, Hutchinson said. James E. Copple, prevention council vice president, said, Five years ago the DEA warned the nation about the rapid rise of methamphetamine use in this country. That warning is now being taken very seriously as our country deals with the conse quences of this highly addictive substance. The meth summits are an important part of our response to the methamphetamine explo sion. The summit is planned to create a coordinated county wide effort to mobilize re sources to prevent and reduce the methamphetamine problem. Its going to take every one of us - DEA agents, state and local law enforcement, preven tion and treatment specialists, journalists and educators - if we are going to make a real dif ference in those communities devastated by methampheta mines, Hutchinson said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake