General Objectives

Work Groups

Treatment

Evaluation

River Valley Methamphetamine Demonstration Project

August 13, 2004

 

 

 

Statement of the Problem:

 

            Methamphetamine use, manufacturing, and distribution in Arkansas has been declared an epidemic by the state’s drug director.  National data from the Drug Enforcement Administration suggests that Arkansas has reported 773 clandestine laboratory incidents in calendar year 2003.  Local and state officials indicate that there was under reporting and a more accurate estimate was over 1,050 cases.  In 2003, Pope County, AR, has reported seizures of 21 laboratories, the 10th highest seizure rate in all of Arkansas counties.  Local law enforcement officials and the River Valley Violence & Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition have lead the community with educational programming since 1999-2000(Methamphetamine: Moonshine of the 90’s), but have been unable to generate a systematic strategy to effectively reduce the use, manufacturing & distribution of methamphetamine.

 

Charge:

 

            With the declaration of the methamphetamine epidemic, Arkansas’ drug director requested Pope County officials to develop a multifaceted attack on methamphetamine use, manufacturing & distribution.  The demonstration project in Pope County, Arkansas will have potential implications for State policy & procedures in dealing with methamphetamine.

 

Goals:

 

  1. Reduce use of Methamphetamine locally.
  2. Reduce production of Methamphetamine locally.
  3. Reduce distribution of Methamphetamine locally.
  4. Increase awareness of the Methamphetamine problem locally.
  5. Increase & improve treatment for Methamphetamine addicted population locally.

 

Local Efforts:

 

            The River Valley Violence & Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition was formed in August 1999 with goals of collaborating to prevent violence and substance abuse, increasing the awareness of the cycle of violence and substance abuse and interrupt the cycle, and assessing the community.

 

            In October, 2000, the coalition sponsored a workshop entitled, “Methamphetamine: Moonshine of the 90’s” which helped bring community awareness to the problem.  Other organizations, such as the Arkansas TECH University Academic Partnership have sponsored trainings by the Drug Task Force, 2001, & Russellville Fire Department, 2002, aimed at awareness and procedures for encountering methamphetamine labs on home visits.  Recently, February 2004, the Pope County Sheriff partnered with the Arkansas TECH University Academic Partnership in Public Child Welfare to sponsor a workshop entitled, “Methamphetamine & Designer Drug Summit: Developing & Maintaining Community Awareness”.

 

Design:

 

The demonstration project design promoted building upon the existing River Valley Violence & Substance Abuse Coalition to develop a collaborative, 120 day demonstration project which utilized a multifaceted attack on the methamphetamine problem in Pope County.  A problem solving model and a committee structure were utilized to address the three prongs of the problem, i.e. Use, Production, and Distribution.  General goals and objectives were identified by a steering committee and presented to selected community leaders who developed and analyzed specific problems related to the three prongs.  Treatment, early intervention and drug court response teams/subcommittees developed within the “Use” prong/committee.  Merchants/Pharmacies, Real Estate/Housing Authority, and child protection/EMS/Fire Department developed within the “Production” committee.  Schools/Administrators/Safe Schools program, law enforcement & Chamber of Commerce developed within the “Distribution” committee.  Evaluation included data collection, analysis and report writing.  Workgroup assignments included designation of community professionals and leaders with their area of expertise.  See flow chart for visual.

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