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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman