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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 3, 2006 White House expert praises anti-meth efforts Meth Summitt Thursday brought together more than 100 concerned community members By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The large-scale local effort to combat methamphetamine abuse is rare among the nation’s communities, a White House expert said. Scott Burns, deputy director for state and local affairs at the White House Drug Policy Office, applauded participants in Thursday’s second annual Meth Summit. More than 140 elected officials, business leaders, drug- treatment providers, child-welfare workers, police, students and others attended the Medford forum to develop community strategies to combat the illegal drug. "You are leading the way," Burns told the crowd. While concerned about meth, larger communities elsewhere in the country haven’t been able to raise the level of support seen in Jackson County, Burns said. Events similar to the Meth Summit held in the South and East typically would attract only one-third of Thursday’s crowd, he added. The meeting built on last year’s event, which brought local community leaders together for the first time since Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski called for a statewide assault on meth. Advertisement Government officials have denounced the illegal drug as the state’s single-largest contributor to overburdened public resources, including police, jails, courts, schools and health- and human-services. Through small-group sessions, participants in Thursday’s session developed strategies in the realm of educating the community, enforcing the law, promoting recovery and strengthening families. The local meth task force will have prepared a draft of eight strategies within a month, said Carin Niebuhr, task force coordinator. Groups suggested formulating a recognizable, branded, public education campaign; mandating earlier elementary education; making treatment available to everyone in need; promoting and supporting employment and housing for recovering addicts; gaining the public’s trust to increase law enforcement; and mentoring families via the business and faith communities. Although only about 1.5 million of the nation’s 19 million estimated drug users favor meth, government officials recognize that the stimulant is vastly different than its counterparts and more dangerous, Burns said. "It is the most destructive drug there is." Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail White House expert praises anti-meth efforts ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement