Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2007 The Billings Gazette
Contact:  http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Jennifer McKee,  Gazette State Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH USE DECLINES IN STATE, REPORT SHOWS

HELENA - Methamphetamine use in Montana seems to be declining, a new 
report shows, although the social costs of the addictive drug remain 
very high, costing the state about $10 million a year.

"We have a long way to go," said Attorney General Mike McGrath, who 
announced the report Wednesday. "This doesn't mean we've necessarily 
turned the corner, but we're certainly going around the bend."

Major Role In Crime

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug "cooked" from some cold 
medicines and a laundry list of other ingredients. Compared with 
other drugs, meth is relatively new, but it quickly gained foothold 
in Montana in the past 15 years. It plays a major role in Montana 
crime and has pumped up costs of the state's social welfare and 
correctional systems. In recent years, however, lawmakers and private 
people have tried to get a handle on the drug. Beginning in 2005, the 
privately funded Montana Meth Project began airing graphic 
television, radio and billboard ads driving home the unglamorous 
realities of meth use.

Software entrepreneur Tom Siebel bankrolled the project to the tune 
of many millions of dollars. Late last year, Seibel announced a $5 
million grant to the program that will match donations made by other 
businesses.

In 2005, lawmakers passed a package of laws aimed at better treating 
meth-addicted criminals and going after some of the raw ingredients of meth.

Those efforts seem to be paying off, McGrath said.

Ninety-three percent of Montana middle and high school students now 
say using meth is a "grave risk," according to the report.

McGrath attributes that figure directly to the Montana Meth Project.

No Glamour In Meth

"There are things in the media that would give kids the impression 
that maybe cocaine has some glamour," McGrath said, or marijuana and 
alcohol. But there is nothing suggesting meth is glamorous, and the 
Meth Project ads drive home how unpleasant a meth addict's life can 
quickly become, he said.

Meth use and meth-related crimes also appear to be on the decline. 
Workplace drug testing shows a 73 percent drop in the number of 
people testing positive for meth, the reports shows, the biggest 
state decline in the nation. Teenagers also report a drop in meth 
use, down from 13.5 percent of all teens using meth to 8.3 percent.

Drug tests on criminals charged with drug possession also show a drop 
in positive meth tests. In 2005, 56 percent of such criminals tested 
positive for meth. In 2006, that figure dropped to 25 percent.

Additionally, meth-related crimes dropped by 53 percent in 2006 after 
increasing for years.

The number of drug labs is also declining, the report shows. In 2006, 
15 meth labs were found in Montana. Since last October, none has been found.

McGrath attributes that to the difficulty of buying meth's main 
ingredient, cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

But he said meth has not disappeared. It's probably just coming into 
the state from someplace else, he said.

While it is difficult to catch a drug trafficker, McGrath said, it's 
still positive that Montana has fewer meth labs, which are 
environmental and fire hazards and are unsafe for children.

McGrath said he expects the numbers of teens who use meth to continue 
to fall as kids exposed to the Montana Meth Project ads at an earlier 
age become older and are more likely to be offered the drug.

The report was preliminary, McGrath said, adding that a final report 
will probably take another year of work. But the early results are 
very promising.

"It does indicate an early trend," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman