NMTTAC

Problem: The production, distribution and use of methamphetamine have created a major crisis in health and safety for our country. Meth activity is a primary cause in the rapid increase of crime and violence in rural and urban areas. Meth is the most compelling and complicated of the drug issues facing this generation. The United Nations expects it to be the #1 drug problem internationally over the next five years.

Many of the problems associated with meth are new and require new relationships and new protocols for local, state and federal agencies. Communities and states need access to cutting-edge information, training and effective practices about strategies to fight this complex and destructive drug. Currently, there is no centralized coordinated center to provide cutting-edge information or facilitate training for the public and private organizations seeking to confront this new challenge.

Solution: Launch a National Methamphetamine Training and Technical Assistance Center

The Pierce County Alliance in Washington State with funding support from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Service, the U.S. Department of Justice and funding assistance from the Offices of Senator Patty Murray will launch the National Methamphetamine Training and Technical Assistance Center in the fall of 2007. The Center will be located in Tacoma, Washington. Washington State, Through its Washington State Meth Initiative, has established model programs and policies and launched initiatives that are community-based and research driven. Each county has formed a Meth Action Team to drive local comprehensive strategies. They have created models that are being replicated throughout the country. Locating the Center in Washington State places the center in close proximity to the resources that can best influence national practice in our efforts to combat methamphetamine use.

Training Center Components and Tasks:

• Train law enforcement agencies in effective community policing strategies to build local capacity to address methamphetamine.
• Replicate the Washington State Meth Initiative model creating state and local comprehensive strategies that facilitate the coordinated and integrated response to meth across sectors (i.e. Lab Cleanup, Law Enforcement Safety, Environmental Contamination, Drug Endangered Children, Treatment, Prevention, and Community Mobilization) and across jurisdictions.
• Promote effective data collection and data collection and data management practices to track the impact and outcomes of methamphetamine efforts.
• Collect, analyze and disseminate best practices across the many sectors of the problem.
Develop a web-based information sharing system to speed dissemination of effective practices.
• Promote effective treatment partnerships and treatment protocols for methamphetamine.
• Develop training curricula, publish policy briefs, newsletters and tool kits to support the capacity of agencies, communities and states to respond to the meth issue effectively.
• Facilitate "Policy to Practice Forums" at the state and local level to identify and promote effective implementation of policies and strategies that demonstrate results in reducing meth production, distribution and use.
• To serve as national repository and dissemination vehicle on all topics related to Meth.

For More Information Contact Priscilla Lisicich, Ph.D. 253-905-4000; Terree Schmidt-Whelan, Ph.D. 253-572-4750.