Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Fairfax County Police Department Announce Statewide Expansion of Meth Prevention Program

Monday, August 27, 2007 General News
Advertisement
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Aug. 27 Today, at theVirginia Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference, the Partnershipfor a Drug-Free America, along with the Fairfax County Police Department,announced the statewide expansion of a community outreach program designed toraise awareness and reduce demand for the highly addictive illicit drugmethamphetamine.
Advertisement

The program, called Meth360(TM), was created by the Partnership andpilot-tested in Northern Virginia -- along with three other cities across thecountry -- beginning in July 2006. Pairing up teams of local law enforcementofficers with substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals, Meth360engages parents and concerned citizens in the fight against meth throughawareness-building presentations delivered at local businesses and civicorganizations, professional meetings, schools and parent groups.
Advertisement

Since July 2006, more than 50 organizations across Northern Virginia havehosted Meth360 presentations. Multiple law enforcement agencies, recruited andtrained by the Partnership and the Police Executive Research Forum, partneredwith representatives from nearly 30 local drug prevention and treatmentorganizations to deliver Meth360 presentations.

The Partnership will now offer Meth360 to all Virginia communities wishingto adopt it through a new suite of web-based resources called Meth360 Online.The site will be active at www.drugfree.org/meth360 on October 1, 2007.Communities interested in planning Meth360 presentations prior to this dateare advised to contact the Partnership at [email protected]

Meth360 Online features everything a community needs to adopt andimplement the program, including multimedia Meth360 presentations as well as adynamic, custom-designed Meth360 Online Learning tutorial offeringcomprehensive information about methamphetamine and guidance on delivering thepresentation. Meth360 Online also houses a social network, allowing presenterswithin communities and across the country to coordinate their efforts andshare experiences.

"We are fortunate that meth hasn't taken hold in Northern Virginia as ithas in other parts of the country," said Sergeant Jim Cox of the FairfaxCounty Police Department, one of the lead law enforcement agenciesparticipating in Meth360. "We are in a unique position to take action to keepthis drug from spreading further, and we believe the Meth360 program is apowerful tool to help law enforcement and social services work together tomobilize communities to fight this threat. We encourage all Virginiacommunities to consider adopting Meth360."

Audience evaluations of the Meth360 pilot program in Virginia indicate astrong positive response to the program, with 90 percent of audiencesreporting that Meth360 "taught them more" about the threat of meth.Additionally, 89 percent of audience members said they would "take action" asa result of seeing Meth360, including sharing what they learned with family,friends and colleagues.

"The tremendous response to Meth360, both from our law enforcementpartners and audiences who have seen the presentation, reaffirms thatcommunities are a willing and powerful ally in stopping meth," said MikeTownsend, executive vice president at the Partnership. "As concern about thisdrug continues to spread, motivating parents and concerned citizens to learnabout meth's dangers and spread the word is more critical than ever. We arepleased to offer Meth360 as a tool to help communities do just that."

Once a threat confined to the West coast, use of methamphetamine hasspread eastward and now affects every state in the country. Federalrestrictions on the precursor chemicals needed to manufacture meth havecontributed to a sharp decline in meth labs nationwide. However, the DrugEnforcement Administration now reports that at least 75 percent of all methused in the United States is imported from superlabs in Mex
Sponsored Post and Backlink Submission


Latest Press Release on General News

This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close