(Fairbanks) - The Interior Delegation and the Volunteers in Policing will hold a press conference at the Fairbanks Police Department, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 14, 2006, to announce the kick-off of the Meth Watch program in Fairbanks. Public service announcements, slated for local television, on the dangers of methamphetamine will be available for viewing. The Fairbanks Meth Watch program will also serve to coordinate a state-wide methamphetamine awareness program.

This past session, two important pieces of legislation were passed, which addressed the growing problem of methamphetamine in Alaska. HB 149 developed into the omnibus drug bill, and HCR 4 urged that a Meth Watch Program be established in Alaska.

Meth Watch is a voluntary public/private program that educates communities about the perils of methamphetamines. Alaska will be the eighteenth state to implement a Meth Watch program. Since the inception of Meth Watch, in Kansas, in 2001, communities implementing the program have shown a significant reduction in methamphetamine laboratories. These communities have also shown an increase in the unification of private and government resources to support education for parents, teachers, and others that work with youth.

Combating methamphetamine production and use starts at home, and in our neighborhoods. The Interior delegation supports the Meth Watch program. Meth Watch will serve as the vehicle to unite our communities in combating the surge of methamphetamine production and use.

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