Pubdate: Wed, 26 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) COLORADO TASK FORCE TARGETS METH USE Number Of Addicts In Treatment Doubles Over Past Five Years John Suthers says damage to economy from meth use is immeasurable. A new statewide task force is hoping to ease the crisis caused by methamphetamine use - an addiction that is sending more than twice as many people into treatment than in years past. The Colorado Methamphetamine Task Force, created by the legislature during the past session and funded by a $50,000 grant from the El Pomar Foundation, held its first meeting Tuesday. The 27-member group, made up of workers from various agencies around the state, will examine community prevention, intervention and treatment. "Meth abuse in Colorado has risen to extremely dangerous levels," said Attorney General John Suthers, chairman of the panel. "The damage meth inflicts on our communities and economy is immeasurable." "There is no one strategy to solve this problem," said Janet Wood, director of the alcohol and drug abuse division of the state Department of Human Services and vice chairwoman of the group. Lt. Lori Moriarty, commander of the North Metro Drug Task Force and another vice chairwoman of the group, said members will work on improving communication among agencies dealing with the problem. For example, Moriarty said, when police bust a meth lab in a house occupied by juveniles, officers should contact social services to help provide a proper home for the children. "Most times, we are focused on the arrests," she said. There were 149 meth lab incidents in Colorado in 2005, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. That was down from 228 such incidents in 2004. Suthers pointed out, however, that despite the decreasing number of lab busts, about 95 percent of meth is imported from Mexico. Last year, about 31 percent of all people in treatment programs were meth users, Wood said. In 2000, meth users made up only 14 percent of those being treated. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman