Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jul 2006
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2006, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

STATE'S METH ABUSE STUDY STARTS

A new statewide task force kicked off its fight against 
methamphetamine abuse this morning.

The 27-members of the Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force held their 
first meeting at the Colorado Department of Law building. The group, 
funded by a $50,000 grant by the El Pomar Foundation, examines local 
prevention, intervention and treatment of meth.

"Meth abuse in Colorado has risen to extremely dangerous levels," 
said Attorney General John Suthers and chair of the group. "The 
damage meth inflicts on our communities and economy is immeasurable."

The group is comprised of members from various agencies from around 
Colorado. Members provide solutions and evaluate other agencies' 
treatment of the meth problem, which Suthers called an epidemic.

One area law enforcement can improve on is communication with other 
agencies, said Lt. Lori Moriarty, commander of the North Metro Drug 
Task Force. Such as when police bust a meth lab in a house, the 
officer should contact social services on providing a proper home for 
the children.

"Most times we are focused on the arrests," she said.

In Colorado, there were 149 meth lab incidents in 2005, according to 
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Last year, about 31 percent of all people in treatment programs are 
meth users, said Janet Wood, director of the alcohol and drug abuse 
division in the Department of Human Services. In 2000, there were 
only 14 percent meth users in these programs.

The Colorado legislature created the task force during this year's 
regular session.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman