Pubdate: Tue, 22 Nov 2005
Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times Daily
Contact:  http://www.timesdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CONGRESSMAN SAYS MORE MONEY NEEDED TO CREATE METH TASK FORCE

Additional money is necessary to form more task forces to combat the 
growing use of methamphetamines in Alabama, said U.S. Rep. Bud 
Cramer, D-Huntsville, in a meeting with regional law enforcement and 
community representatives Monday.

Although some money has already been allotted for these meth task 
forces, more is needed for the "front line" officers who regularly 
deal with the drug, Cramer said.

"There are problems with methamphetamine we've never faced with any 
other drug issue," Cramer said.

One agency dealing with the problem is Huntsville-Madison County 
Strategic Counterdrug, or STAC.

The team originally received 75 percent of its funding through 
federal money made available through the Alabama Department of 
Economic and Community Affairs, or ADECA.

This past year, though, the group was required to match 50 percent of 
the funds, an amount "which nearly killed us," said STAC team 
commander Gerry Norris.

Next year the group will likely need to provide 75 percent of the funds.

Cramer has helped secure more than $5 million from the federal 
government to combat meth in Alabama. About $1 million of that money 
is allotted to ADECA to help fund these task forces, with the rest 
going to local sheriff's departments and to the state's district 
attorney offices.

Cramer said he will work to increase funding for the task forces.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman