NEW STATES ADOPT METH PROJECT Following the Meth Project’s success in

Montana, several states have adopted the

program in an effort to reduce first-time

Meth use. The Arizona Meth Project,

which launched following Montana in April

2007, has shown significant progress and

recently released its second Arizona Meth

Use & Attitudes Survey, which measures

changes in attitudes and behaviors toward

methamphetamine.

This year, the Meth Project expanded

its programs, including the Idaho Meth

Project in January; the Illinois Meth Project,

targeting the Springfield, Decatur, and

Champaign regions, in February; and the

Wyoming Meth Project in June. Other states

will be launching later this year.

THE DANIELS FUND INVESTS TO EXPAND THE METH PROJECTThe Daniels Fund provided generous

support to assist in the development of

the Wyoming Meth Project with a grant

awarded in February 2008 and is now

spearheading the effort to bring the project

to Colorado. Operating the Daniels Fund

Grants Program in Colorado, New Mexico,

Utah, and Wyoming, the Daniels Fund

was established in 1997 by Bill Daniels, a

pioneer in cable television known for his

kindness and generosity to those in need.

The Daniels Fund partners with

organizations that ensure youth and

adults with alcohol and substance abuse

challenges achieve stability by supporting

prevention, treatment, and after-care

services. The research-based Meth

prevention messaging campaign of the

Meth Project is well aligned with the Daniels

Fund’s effort to reach out, and work closely

with, communities, organizations, and

individuals to maximize impact.

Linda Childears, President and CEO of the

Daniels Fund, described their support for

the Meth Project. “In our initial meeting

with Tom Siebel, Founder and Chairman

of the Meth Project, it was clear that our

strategic focus and the Meth Project’s

delivery of a large scale Meth prevention

messaging campaign focused on teens

were well aligned.”

PROGRESS UPDATE.

“As a parent of two kids, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the work you do. When we see an ad on TV, or the billboards, it opens an opportunity for a conversation about drugs. We’ve had a lot of them, sometimes in depth and sometimes just about the ad.” – Martha, Montana parent

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MethProject.org

SUMMER ’08THE METH PROJECTProgress Update 1

Community Outreach and Federal Support 2

New Meth Project Advertising Campaign 3

ARIZONA METH PROJECT 4

IDAHO METH PROJECT 6

ILLINOIS METH PROJECT 8

MONTANA METH PROJECT 10

WYOMING METH PROJECT 12

MethProject.org

PICKING FOR BUGS UNDER YOUR SKIN ISN’T NORMAL.

©Th

e M

eth

Proj

ect

MethProject.org© The Meth Project

LEAVING A FRIEND FOR DEAD ISN’T NORMAL.

The Meth Project is an initiative of the Siebel Foundation

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOSTS METH PROJECTLeaders of the Meth Project states, including

Idaho First Lady Lori Otter and Idaho Office of

Drug Policy Director Debbie Field, met with

their congressional delegations in March.

In September, Meth Project Founder Tom

Siebel was invited to testify before the Senate

Finance Committee. Siebel was invited to

brief the committee about the impact of the

Meth Project’s prevention campaign in the

state of Montana—where the Meth Project

implemented its first statewide program.

Committee members called on their

colleagues to address the national Meth

epidemic by expanding the Meth Project’s

prevention campaign to other states across

the country. Montana Senator Max Baucus,

Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,

applauded the Project’s success in his state,

stating “the Meth Project has been extremely

effective in raising awareness about the

devastating impact of this drug. We have seen

remarkable changes in Montana as a result of

the Meth Project—fewer teens and adults are

using the drug and Meth-related crime is down

considerably. Other states will certainly benefit

from the Meth Project’s prevention program,

and I commend Mr. Siebel for his commitment

to this issue. I call on my colleagues to make

resources available to implement the Meth

Project program nationally.”

IDAHO FIRST LADY LORI OTTER TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESSOn April 2, Idaho First Lady Lori Otter testified

before Congress, touting the success of the

Project. Members of the House Appropriations

Subcommittee of Commerce, Justice, Science

and Related Agencies affirmed the need to

direct significant federal funding to support

current and new Meth Project programs in

states across the nation. In her testimonial,

Otter outlined the damage that Meth causes

in Idaho and the effectiveness of the program

to fight the drug. “[The Meth Project’s] results

in Montana have been more significant than

any drug prevention program in history, and

I believe we are on a path to see the same

benefits in Idaho. On behalf of the citizens of

Idaho, as well as the 38 state leaders who are

reaching out to the Meth Project for an answer

to devastating Meth abuse, I sincerely hope

that Congress will respond to this challenge,”

Otter said.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FEDERAL SUPPORT

METH PROJECT DVD: NOW AVAILABLEThe Meth Project is pleased to announce

the release of a new program overview DVD

containing the Meth Project ads, interviews

with state leaders, and remarks by Meth

Project Founder Tom Siebel. The DVD also

contains “Montana Meth,” a documentary

film that takes an unflinching look at the

debilitating impact of methamphetamine use.

To obtain a copy of the DVD, please make a

$50 donation at www.methproject.org.

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ADVERTISING AWARDS: METH PROJECT EARNS INDUSTRY’S TOP HONORSThe Meth Project earned internationally recognized awards for its prevention

advertising campaign in the past year, including the prestigious Bronze Lion Award

at the 54th Annual Cannes International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France. Other

notable honors to date include seven Gold ADDY awards, 18 Silver Addy Awards, two

Gold Effie awards, and seven AdCritic.com “Top Ten” Awards for the best ads in the

U.S. The campaign was also a finalist for the coveted Grand Effie award, alongside

such notable brands as Apple, Philips Norelco, and American Express.

IMPACTAFTER THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF THE METH PROJECT IN MONTANA: • Montana now ranks #39 in the nation for Meth abuse, down from # 5 • Teen Meth use has declined by 45% • Adult Meth use has declined by 72% • Meth-related crime has decreased 62%

methproject.org

In April, the Meth Project

unveiled its newest advertising

campaign, including a series

of television ads directed by

critically acclaimed filmmaker

Alejandro González Iñárritu,

the Oscar-nominated director

and producer whose works

include “Babel,” “21 Grams,”

and “Amores Perros.” The ads,

which launched in Montana,

are designed to communicate

the consequences of Meth use

on individuals, their friends,

and families. The 30-second

television ads offer a look into

the dark world of teen Meth

addiction. Built around the

theme, “This isn’t normal, but

on Meth it is,” the ads present

graphic and often uncomfortable

views of how Meth can drive

users to abhorrent and even

violent behavior.

In one ad, two teenage girls sell

themselves to a group of young

men for money to buy Meth.

Another focuses on addicts

breaking into a house to support

their Meth habit, and the last

features a teen suffering from

an overdose, lying at the feet of

friends who are smoking Meth.

In addition to the three television

ads directed by Iñárritu, 4 print

ads and 9 radio ads will reach

at least 80% of Montana teens

three times each week.

The new advertising campaign

is the fourth in an award-winning

series launched by the Meth

Project. To assure maximum

impact, each campaign is

research-based and is carefully

tested with the Project’s target

audience—teens. The ads can

be viewed at www.methproject.

org/ads, and will be aired in

other states, including Arizona,

Idaho, Illinois, and Wyoming at a

later date.

NEW METH PROJECT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN: DIRECTED BY OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMMAKER ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU

NEW UCLA “METH INSIDE OUT” DVD SHOWS IMPACT OF METH USE ON THE BRAINUCLA Integrated Substance Abuse

Programs, a leading research institution

on the topic of methamphetamine, and

Eyes of the World Media Group jointly

produced a video-based treatment

curriculum on methamphetamine

addiction and recovery, with support

from the Meth Project. The series is

designed to equip Meth users, their

families, and the professionals who

assist them with a solid understanding

of the biological basis of addiction and

effective tools for recovery. “Meth Inside

Out: Brain and Behavior” equips viewers

with an understanding of how Meth

changes the brain and, consequently,

behavior. 3D animations, accessible

explanations, and personal accounts

help viewers understand complex

scientific concepts. To obtain a copy of

the DVD, visit www.methinsideout.com

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Oscar-nominated director Alejandro González Iñárritu directed the new Meth Project TV ads. Visit www.methproject.org/ads

The Meth Project has been featured in over

1,500 news stories and 300 million media

impressions, including several news features

and publications, in the past year. In August

2007, PBS NOW featured the Montana

Meth Project in its “Enterprising Ideas”

series, which highlights the world’s leading

social entrepreneurs and how they are

using business tools to tackle major social

problems. The show focused on the Meth

Project’s successful marketing techniques in

“unselling” Meth to teens in Montana. The

episode was well received, and PBS NOW

followed up in May 2008 with a feature on

the expansion of the Meth Project into Idaho,

highlighting the successes of the program in

the state.

ABC News reported on the Meth Project in

two of its news segments, ABC Nightline and

ABC World News Tonight, which explored

methamphetamine use in Montana and how

the Meth Project has made an impact in

reducing its prevalence in the state. The Meth

Project was also featured as part of a CBS

News (Silicon Valley) Special Report series,

“The Meth Epidemic.”

Numerous magazines have reported on the

Meth Project, including the Stanford Social

Innovation Review, Philanthropy Magazine,

GOOD Magazine, and the Economist.

All press coverage can be found on the Meth

Project’s website at www.methproject.org.

METH PROJECT IN THE NEWS

methproject.org

94% OF ARIZONA TEENS NOW SEE GREAT RISK IN TRYING METHA new statewide survey has found that

teens’ attitudes toward the dangers of

methamphetamine use have shifted

substantially since the Arizona Meth Project

initiated the first wave of its Meth prevention

campaign in 2007. Compared to the 2007

benchmark survey—conducted prior to

the launch of the Project’s “Not Even Once”

campaign—the new results show that teens

are now much more aware of the negative

consequences associated with Meth use.

The survey also revealed that, for the first

time, teens view Meth as the most dangerous

substance, even riskier than heroin, cocaine,

and marijuana.

The 2008 survey shows teens are more acutely

aware of the specific dangers of first-time Meth

use. Increases in perceptions of “great” risk

in trying Meth “once or twice” were reported

in nearly all risk areas measured, including:

getting hooked (94 percent, up 5 points),

becoming someone you don’t want to be (89

percent, up 8 points), dying (83 percent, up 8

points), and becoming violent (81 percent, up

7 points).

Teens are also now more likely to disagree with

certain benefits of Meth. Changes were seen

as teens more readily reject the notion that the

drug makes you happier (67 percent), gives

you increased energy (69 percent), and helps

you lose weight (49 percent).

“This data demonstrates the Arizona Meth

Project is making progress in changing teens’

attitudes toward Meth,” said Dr. Judy Krysik,

associate professor in the ASU College of

Public Programs School of Social Work. “Teens

report the Project’s ads are not only impactful

and informative, but make them less likely

to try Meth. Teens now see the drug carries

greater risk and less benefit than previously

thought.”

The majority of teens “strongly agree” the

Arizona Meth Project’s ads show that Meth is

dangerous to try just once (80 percent), will

make you act in a way you would not want to

(84 percent), is more dangerous than they had

originally thought (78 percent), and affects

many people’s lives besides the user’s (74

percent). Teens “strongly agree” that the ads

make them less likely to try or use Meth (76

percent), help them understand that you can’t

try Meth even once (78 percent), and make

them more aware of the risks of using Meth (74

percent).

The 2008 Arizona Meth Use & Attitudes Survey

is the largest Meth-related attitudinal tracking

study in the state. The survey group consists

of over 1,212 respondents among three key

groups: teens, young adults, and parents of

teens. For the complete report, please visit

www.arizonamethproject.org.

ARIZONA METH PROJECT UNVEILS NEW ADVERTISING AND ANTI-METH YOUTH PLEDGE

Arizona’s “Not Even Once” Youth Pledge was

revealed last September, to mark the kick-

off of Wave Two of the Arizona Meth Project

mass media youth prevention and education

campaign featuring hard-hitting television,

outdoor, and print advertising designed to

prevent first-time Meth use.

The kick-off in Maricopa County was hosted

at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix

by Arizona Meth Project Advisory Board

co-chairs Attorney General Terry Goddard,

Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley, and

Navajo Nation First Lady Vikki Shirley. The co-

chairs were joined by Arizona Alliance of Boys

& Girls Clubs Board President John Heitel, a

member of the Arizona Meth Project Advisory

Board.

Commenting on the Project, Stapley shared,

“from the moment we launched the Pledge,

our coalition partners across the state were

anxious to carry this manifestation of the Not

Even Once message into their community so

that the conversation about this horrific drug

could take place at a very grassroots level.

Their enthusiasm, combined with the massive

response from young people—expressed

through their personal signatures and

comments— reaffirms to me that the Arizona

Meth Project is a much-needed effort and that

we have only begun to scratch the surface.”

(Continued on page 5)

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“Not Even Once” Youth Pledge and kick-off of Wave Two of the Arizona Meth Project advertising campaign at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix

arizonamethproject.org

The Not Even Once Youth Pledge was a

collaborative statewide grass roots effort that

successfully captured personal commentary,

etchings, and signatures from young people

across Arizona. The Pledge collected more than

10,000 signatures from Arizona teens and young

adults. County health departments, anti-Meth

coalitions, tribal councils, and other community

groups partnered with the Arizona Meth Project

to bring the Not Even Once Youth Pledge to

events in their communities, including music

festivals, 4th of July parades, Boys & Girls Clubs,

and popular water parks. Nearly 100 signed

Pledges were returned to the Arizona Meth

Project and, connected end-to-end, are longer

than an NFL regulation football field. A list of

all of the participating organizations, as well as

some images of the Pledge in the community,

can be seen at

www.arizonamethproject.org.

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To make young people aware of the dangers of

methamphetamine, Attorney General Terry Goddard and

the Arizona Meth Project partnered in the Meth Not Even

Once Poster Contest. Goddard encouraged eighth graders

throughout Arizona to showcase their creativity and artistic

talent, while learning more about the devastating effects of

Meth use, by participating in the contest.

According to Andrea Esquer, press secretary with the

Attorney General’s Office, the office received 240 entries

from 40 schools across Arizona. The criteria for the posters

required that the artwork be original and that it exemplified

the Not Even Once message. Judges looked for posters that

best expressed the dangers of methamphetamine and that

would appeal to a broad range of youth, Esquer explained.

The Arizona Dental Association and Wells Fargo presented

the winning students with cash prizes of $500 for first place,

$250 for second place, and $100 for third place. An additional

14 honorable mention winners received $25 awards.

The winner, Laurel Catanzariti, an eighth grader at Heritage

Middle school, will have her artwork featured as a full sized

poster in a statewide public information campaign.

METH PROJECT POSTER CONTEST: ARIZONA TEENS SHOWCASE CREATIVITY AND TALENT

Winning entries of the Meth Not Even Once Poster Contest featured in an Arizona Meth Project Poster

NOT EVEN ONCE PLEDGE CONTINUED

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard awards the winners of the Not Even Once Poster Contest

arizonamethproject.org

NEW LAUNCH: GOVERNOR OTTER KICKS OFF IDAHO METH PROJECT

On January 7, 2008, Governor C.L. “Butch”

Otter announced the launch of the Idaho

Meth Project’s statewide prevention

campaign aimed at significantly reducing

first-time methamphetamine use. During

his State of the State address, the Governor

also requested the state legislature to

appropriate $1 million in tobacco settlement

money from the Millennium Fund to join the

private, corporate, and public partners that

support the Project.

The Idaho Meth Project has adopted

the Meth Project’s innovative program—

combining an aggressive, saturation-level

media campaign with community-action

programs—designed to prevent Meth use

by raising awareness of the dangers of the

drug.

In announcing the program’s launch,

Governor Otter cited the severe impact

methamphetamine use has had in Idaho, and

the success the Meth Project model has had

in reducing Meth use in other states.

“The Idaho Meth Project was brought

to our state by Idahoans who saw the

tremendous burden Meth use has put on

our social service, law enforcement, and

prison systems,” Governor Otter said. “This

year, the First Lady and I have visited with

hundreds of citizens in the state that want

to be a part of the solution. The result truly

is a collaborative effort. People across the

state have donated their time, talents, and

financial resources. Thanks to their efforts,

we can implement the Meth Project model in

Idaho and dramatically reduce Meth use in

our state.”

In January, the Idaho Meth Project began

airing hard-hitting television, radio, billboard,

and print ads across the state. This

research-based, high-impact advertising

graphically portrays the ravages of Meth use

and is designed to reach 70 to 90% of teens

statewide, 3 to 5 times a week. The ads can

be viewed at www.idahomethproject.org.

IDAHO METH PROJECT RELEASES NEW METH SURVEYAt the end of January, the Idaho Meth Project

released the results of a first-ever statewide

survey examining the attitudes and behaviors

that Idaho teens, young adults, and parents

have toward methamphetamine. The survey,

conducted among representative groups across

the state, found that 45% of young adults report

Meth is readily available and 30% report having

been offered the drug.

Particularly disturbing is the fact that many

young people perceive significant benefits in

using Meth—and little risk. The Idaho survey

indicated that nearly one quarter of teens

believe the drug will make them happy and

help them lose weight; 20% of teens see little

to no risk in trying the drug. Four in ten young

people have not tried to dissuade friends from

taking Meth, and nearly one in four believe

their friends would not give them a hard time

for using the drug, suggesting a pronounced

level of social approval. Survey results showed

that half of young adults and one in three

teens have never discussed Meth with their

parents, although behavioral research has

found that parent-child communication is one

of the best prevention methods for reducing

risky behavior. “All evidence suggests that

education and communication are critical

in preventing Meth use,” said Megan Ronk,

Executive Director of the Idaho Meth Project.

“The goal of the Idaho Meth Project advertising

is to ‘unsell’ Meth, arming youth with the facts

about methamphetamine so they can make

better informed consumption decisions.”

The 2007 Idaho Meth Use & Attitudes Survey will

serve as a benchmark to measure progress

as the Idaho Meth Project executes the Meth

Project’s large-scale prevention campaign to

educate the state’s youth about the dangers of

methamphetamine use.Idaho Meth Project launch in January, 2008.

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idahomethproject.org

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: IDAHOANS RALLY FOR THE IDAHO METH PROJECT

THUNDER OVER NAMPAThe Thunder Over Nampa Air Show

partnered with the Idaho Meth Project to

bring an air show to Nampa, Idaho over

Father’s Day weekend, with all proceeds

benefiting the Idaho Meth Project.

The event drew crowds of up to 18,000

over the weekend and, to benefit the Idaho

Meth Project as much as possible, all of

the performers at the air show thrilled

spectators free of charge. Idaho Meth

Project Executive Director Megan Ronk

said that, from all perspectives, the show

was a great success. With an estimated

yearly budget of around $2.4 million, the

project needs funding to keep promoting

its slogan, “Not Even Once,” through an

aggressive advertising and community

action campaign.

“This is not a problem we’re going to solve

overnight,” Ronk said. “We really have to

look at the next generation of Idahoans and

inform them about this horrible drug.”

“All the pilots donated their time and

their expertise and all the people who are

here—are here on their own time,” said

John-Curtiss Paul, a pilot in the air show.

Organizers with the Idaho Meth Project

were blown away by the support they

received from the flying community and the

crowds. The event raised $45,000 to help

fund the Idaho Meth Project’s anti-Meth

campaign.

BLAKEFESTWith the help of a friend, Blake Shropshire

organized 11 bands to play in his own

backyard in Idaho Falls to raise awareness

and money for the Idaho Meth Project.

Blake knows first-hand the devastating

effects Meth can have on a person. “I’ve

had 15 years experience with Meth, and it

wasn’t good,” Blake says. “I’ve ruined many

lives and many families. I ruined my own

family for a long time.”

The event was open to all ages and drew

a crowd of 550 young people. Blakefest

raised $3,000 to benefit the Idaho Meth

Project’s anti-Meth prevention campaign

and the organizers are planning the next

festival in Twin Falls.

Blakefest and Thunder Over Nampa—community organized events to support the Idaho Meth Project

IDAHO METH PROJECT RECEIVES FINANCIAL SUPPORT

COEUR D’ALENE TRIBE The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has pledged

$500,000 to support the Idaho Meth Project.

This pledge represents the single largest

contribution to the Idaho Meth Project to date.

“We recognize the impact that

methamphetamine has on our state—and

Native American tribes have not been immune

from the devastating effects of this incredibly

addictive drug,” said Coeur d’Alene Chairman

Chief J. Allan. “As a result, it only made sense

for us to partner with the state and private

sector in a coordinated prevention and public

awareness initiative to protect our young

people from this drug.”

Senator Michael Jorgensen, Chairman of the

Idaho Council on Indian Affairs and the North

Idaho Fundraising Chair for the Idaho Meth

Project, was instrumental in working with the

tribe on this major contribution. “I have no

doubt that this program will have a significant

impact on reducing Meth use in our state. The

generous contribution from the Coeur d’Alene

Tribe gets us one step closer,” said Jorgenson.

QWEST DIRECT AWARDSThe Idaho Meth Project is a member of

the Qwest Direct Awards Program. Each

subscription to a Qwest service allows

Idahoans to direct their award dollars to the

Idaho Meth Project. Idaho residents can

support the Idaho Meth Project by having

Qwest donate an additional $25 for every

residential service ordered. Qwest offers

local and long-distance voice service, high-

speed Internet, wireless phone service, and

television in much of Idaho.

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idahomethproject.org

ILLINOIS METH PROJECT: LAUNCHES IN SPRINGFIELD, DECATUR, AND CHAMPAIGN

The Illinois Meth Project launched a campaign to prevent first-time

methamphetamine use in the state on February 11, 2008. The

campaign began in the central Illinois media market covering the

cities of Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign. It is expected to

expand to other media markets in the coming months.

“In the past several years, we have taken steps to curb the soaring

number of Meth labs in Illinois, but this fight is far from over,” said

Attorney General Lisa Madigan, addressing the crowd of attendees

at the campaign’s official launch announcement in Springfield.

“We also need to focus on prevention to curb demand. The

Meth Project has delivered measurable results unlike any other

prevention program I have seen, and I am excited to help introduce

Illinois to this groundbreaking campaign.”

Illinois Meth Project advertising will reach roughly 70 to 90 percent

of teens 3 to 5 times per week in the Springfield, Decatur, and

Champaign area, which includes the state’s capital city, Springfield.

“We want to dramatically reduce Meth use and significantly

increase the dialogue in the state,” said Meth Project founder Tom

Siebel. “As an Illinois native, this project holds a special meaning

for me. I am honored to be working with so many dedicated law

enforcement officers, treatment experts, elected officials, and other

state leaders who have taken a stand against Meth.”

POLICY ADVISOR TO ATTORNEY GENERAL NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS METH PROJECTSteve Mange, a respected advocate in the

fight against methamphetamine, is now

Executive Director of the Illinois Meth Project.

Prior to joining the Project, Mange served

as Senior Policy Advisor to Illinois Attorney

General Lisa Madigan, where he devoted

most of his time to addressing the state’s

ongoing Meth issues. Mange brings years of

policy and community relations experience to

his new position, including considerable work

helping build local coalitions and statewide

alliances to support stronger anti-Meth

policies.

“The Illinois Meth Project is pleased to have

an Executive Director who is an expert in this

issue at the local, state, and national levels,”

said Michael Reagan, the Project’s Chairman.

“Steve will be instrumental in working with

government agencies and community groups,

and expanding this innovative program

to other parts of the state where Meth is a

devastating reality.”

In his new role, Mange will work with existing

anti-Meth coalitions and communities to help

prevent first-time Meth use, especially among

young people. These efforts will focus on

outreach among schools, since studies show

youth and teens are particularly vulnerable to

trying the drug. Mange will also spearhead

efforts to expand the Illinois Meth Project into

state media markets beyond the Springfield,

Champaign, and Decatur region, where the

Project is currently focused. The Illinois Meth Project ad campaign reaches 70-90% of the state’s teens, 3-5 times a week

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illinoismethproject.org

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SURVEY RESULTS: METH IS READILY AVAILABLE TO ILLINOIS TEENS, MANY SEE BENEFITS AND LITTLE RISKThe Illinois Meth Project released results

of its Meth Use & Attitudes Survey for the

central Illinois region corresponding to

the Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign

media market. The in-depth survey

examining Illinois teens’ attitudes and

behaviors toward methamphetamine shows

that many Illinois young people consider

Meth an easily accessible, low-risk drug

that offers a myriad of benefits.

Nearly one in four teens (22%) reported

the drug is readily available and 26% see

little risk in giving it a try. The survey also

suggests that central Illinois teens perceive

significant benefits in using Meth—21% cite

weight loss as a key benefit, 16% believe it

will make them happy, and one in 10 teens

(12%) say Meth will help them deal with

boredom. Not only do some teens see

benefit in using Meth, but the data further

indicates a relatively low level of social

disapproval—49% of teens have not tried

to dissuade friends from taking Meth, and

nearly one in three (30%) believe their

friends would not give them a hard time for

using the drug.

“Sadly, adolescents often have little or no

factual information about the risks involved

with illicit drug use, and make decisions

based on incorrect assumptions and

perceptions,” said Wendy Bailie, Director

of Substance Abuse Services at Franklin-

Williamson Human Services, which

treats patients with addiction problems,

including methamphetamine, at its centers

in southern Illinois. “These results clearly

show the gross misconceptions teens have

regarding methamphetamine use. Many

just don’t realize the destruction that comes

with trying Meth.”

Teens are particularly vulnerable

to experimentation with Meth—in

Illinois, 72% of people in treatment for

methamphetamine began using at age 17

or younger. While behavioral research

shows parent-child communication to

be a powerful tool in discouraging risky

behavior, survey results showed that 50% of

teens have never discussed Meth with their

parents.

Illinois Meth Project Launch in February, 2008

In response to the ongoing Meth epidemic

in Illinois—particularly in the state’s rural

areas—the Illinois Sherriff ’s Association led

the initial effort to bring the Meth Project to

the state. In partnership with U.S. Senator

Dick Durbin, the Association wanted

to implement a large-scale prevention

campaign to educate young people about

the dangers of Meth. According to the

Department of Justice, methamphetamine

is the primary drug threat in central and

southern Illinois and the University of Illinois

estimates that methamphetamine costs the

state approximately $2 billion per year.

Senator Durbin and the Association have

been instrumental in securing federal

funding to both launch and sustain the Illinois

Meth Project. The Senator has long been

at the forefront in the fight against Meth use

both in Illinois and nationally, co-sponsoring

key legislation including the Combat

Meth Act and Senate Resolution 366 with

Senator Max Baucus of Montana, declaring

November as National Meth Awareness

Month.

The work of the Illinois Sherriff ’s Association

and Senator Durbin in support of the

Illinois Meth Project is driving visible and

meaningful change in Illinois.

SENATOR DURBIN SECURES FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ILLINOIS METH PROJECT

illinoismethproject.org

IMPACT: NEW MONTANA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S REPORT AND RECENT SURVEYS SHOW SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN USE AND METH-RELATED CRIMEThe Centers for Disease Control and the Montana

Office of Public Instruction announced the results

of Montana’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which

found that Meth use among teens in the state

has declined 45% since 2005, when the Meth

Project first launched its campaign in Montana. In

contrast, the report showed a 29% decrease in

Meth use among teens nationally over the same

period.

In April, the Montana Attorney General’s office

issued its second Meth study, “Methamphetamine

in Montana: A Follow-Up Report on Trends

and Progress.” The report showed substantial

reductions in Meth usage and the secondary

effects of Meth on social services and law

enforcement. Among the findings in the report

were a 62% drop in Meth-related crime since

2005, and a near 42% decline in Meth-related

admissions to state-funded treatment facilities

among young people. The report also cited an

11% decrease in children placed in out of home

custody due to Meth-related neglect or abuse.

In the report, Attorney General McGrath cites the

work of the Montana Meth Project as a key factor

in the state’s progress against Meth and called

for increased support for the Project, noting that

“continuing to execute aggressive prevention and

education programs is critical to our efforts to

eradicate Montana’s methamphetamine problem.

By systematically focusing on demand reduction,

we will continue to set the pace for the rest of the

nation in addressing this epidemic.”

THE MONTANA METH PROJECT WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT: American Bank

Gilhousen Family Foundation

First Interstate Bank

BNSF Foundation

Martel Construction

Montana Contractors’ Association

Glacier Bancorp

Ila B. Dousman Fund

Montana Tavern Association

Town Pump Charitable Foundation

Lee Enterprises

Davidson Companies

Fast Enterprises LLC

Swank Enterprises

LP & Theresa Anderson Foundation

Locati Architects

Rio Tinto Energy America

Stuart & Sally Platinum Properties

Oftedal Construction

Stockman Bank

MDU Resources Foundation

Stillwater Mining Company

Greater Gallatin United Way

Sime Construction

Vann’s Audio, Video & Appliances

Kenyon-Noble Lumber Company

Anderson Masonry

Soroptimist International of Helena

Mountain West Bank

Bernard Construction

Printing for Less

James Talcott Construction

Western Municipal Construction

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PICKING FOR BUGS UNDER YOUR SKIN ISN’T NORMAL.

©Th

e M

eth

Proj

ect

MethProject.org© The Meth Project

LEAVING A FRIEND FOR DEAD ISN’T NORMAL.

The Montana Meth Project is currently airing Wave Four of the award-winning ad cam-paign, featuring TV, radio, and print ads

montanamethproject.org

MONTANA METH PROJECT’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

The Montana Meth Project ended 2007 with a

highly successful annual fundraising campaign,

raising nearly $1,250,000 in private and

corporate donations toward its 2007 goal of $1

million in private contributions.

The Project relies on public and private

donations raised through its annual fundraising

campaign to sustain its statewide prevention

efforts. This year’s fundraising campaign

kicked-off with a special benefit dinner, ski

event, and auction at the Yellowstone Club near

Big Sky. The event raised over $40,000 toward

the Montana Meth Project’s 2008 fundraising

efforts.

This summer, Burlington Northern Santa Fe

Foundation, a long-time supporter of the

Project, is hosting a benefit dinner for the

Montana Meth Project on their Glacier View

dining car. A gourmet dinner will be served as

the train travels through Glacier National park

from Whitefish to East Glacier.

In August, the Iron Horse Golf Club in Whitefish

will once again host a fundraising dinner to

benefit the Montana Meth Project. The event

will feature fantastic food and music in a

beautiful setting.

The Montana Meth Project is now able to

accept recurring credit card gifts. Annual gifts

can be spread out through smaller monthly

payments for a gift that continues to give

throughout the year. For more information on

this program, and the events above, please visit

www.montanameth.org.

DONATE THROUGH “MONTANA SHARES” PAYROLL DEDUCTION AND RAFFLE

The Montana Shares Program is an

easy way to give to the Montana

Meth Project. In addition, their

annual raffle is another great way

to contribute, plus get a chance

to win one of nearly 50 prizes,

including gas cards, handmade

jewelry, artwork, and more. If

you are interested in either the

Montana Shares’ payroll donations

or purchasing raffle tickets, please

contact us at www.montanameth.org.

MONTANA’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION LEAD FEDERAL FUNDING EFFORT Montana’s Congressional delegates—Sen.

Baucus, Sen. Tester, and Rep. Rehberg—

continued their leadership in addressing

the Meth problem in Montana and nationally

through ongoing efforts to direct significant

federal funding to Meth prevention.

This month, the Montana Meth Project will

receive nearly $1 million in federal funding

secured by Senators Max Baucus and Jon

Tester, and Congressman Denny Rehberg

in the Commerce, Science, and Justice

Appropriations Bill in last year’s session.

An additional $2 million in funding for the

Montana Meth Project has been requested by

Sen. Baucus, Sen. Tester, and Rep. Rehberg in

this year’s appropriations bill.

Montana’s Congressional delegation has also

taken a leading role to expand the program

nationally and drafted legislation that would

provide $20 million in federal funding to

support Meth awareness and prevention

campaigns in Montana and other affected

regions.

“We need to get behind the Meth Project and

give it our full support. This is a chance to

make a real difference in our state.”

– Max Baucus, U.S. Senator, Montana

“If you look at what’s happened in the state

of Montana, it’s pretty exciting. It’s time for

Congress to commit to taking the Meth Project

national.”

– Denny Rehberg, U.S. Congressman, Montana

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NEW LAUNCH: WYOMING BECOMES 5TH STATE TO ADOPT METH PROJECTOn June 16, 2008, Wyoming became

the fifth state to implement the Meth

Project’s large-scale prevention campaign

aimed at significantly reducing first-time

methamphetamine use among Wyoming youth.

The Wyoming Meth Project kicked off with

a press conference at the McMurry Training

Center in Casper.

According to the Department of Justice,

methamphetamine is the primary drug threat

to Wyoming, costing millions of dollars in lost

productivity, contributing to jail and prison

populations, and often leading to domestic

violence and child abuse—adversely

impacting families and children across the

state. Wyoming ranks #2 in the country for

Meth use among teens ages 12-17, and #1 in

the country for Meth use among young adults

ages 18-25.

Members of the Wyoming Meth Project

Advisory Council, as well as federal and

state officials, discussed the importance of

the Project in driving Meth from the state and

expressed their support for the effort. “The

people affected by this epidemic are not just

nameless, faceless statistics. They are our

friends, our relatives, our co-workers, and the

children of our communities,” said U.S. Senator

John Barrasso, R-WY. “The Wyoming Meth

Project will play a key role in educating our

youth and reducing demand for this highly-

addictive, devastating drug.”

The Wyoming Meth Project Launch at the McMurry Training Center in Casper, WY

WYOMING RELEASES RESULTS OF FIRST STATEWIDE METH SURVEYThe Wyoming Meth Project released results

from three statewide surveys measuring

attitudes and behaviors that Wyoming teens,

young adults, and parents have toward

methamphetamine. Results of the first

Wyoming Meth Use & Attitudes Survey show

that young people in Wyoming believe Meth

is a low-risk, easily accessible drug that offers

benefits—beliefs that put Wyoming youth at

significant risk.

Despite the highly addictive nature of

methamphetamine, nearly one quarter of

Wyoming teens (23%) see little to no risk in

trying the drug. Thirty percent of teens and

nearly 50% of young adults believe there are

significant benefits to methamphetamine

use, citing the drug will help them alleviate

boredom, lose weight, make them happier,

and provide increased energy.

Not only is Meth seen as a low-risk drug, the

data also shows it is readily available to young

people throughout the state. More than half

of young adults (54%) and 35% of teens say it

would be easy for them to acquire Meth and 1

in 3 young adults and 16% of teens report that

someone has offered them the drug or tried to

get them to use it.

“These new survey results show us just

how vulnerable our youth are to Meth use

and addiction; they are at tremendous risk,”

said Jean Davies, Executive Director of the

Wyoming Meth Project. “Wyoming ranks

second in the nation for teen Meth use and

(Continued on page 13)

Wyoming ranks #2 in the U.S. •for Meth use by teens ages 12

to 17

Wyoming ranks #1 in the U.S. •for Meth use by young adults

ages 18 to 25

About one in four Wyoming •teens (23%) see little or no

risk in trying Meth

30% of Wyoming teens and •47% of young adults believe

that Meth “helps you lose

weight”

One third of Wyoming teens •and 21% of young adults say

their friends would not give

them “a hard time” for using

Meth

THE PROBLEM

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wyomingmethproject.org

we cannot afford to cede any more

ground to this drug. Clearly, we need to

address the misperceptions that Meth

carries little risk and provides benefits

to users and communicate the very real

dangers of Meth abuse before this very

serious statewide problem becomes an

unmanageable crisis.”

Prevention expert Brenda Eichoff-Johnson

believes that teens and parents each have

roles to play in stemming the tide of Meth

use in Wyoming. Survey data suggests

that Meth use is socially acceptable to

many young people in Wyoming, as

32% of teens report their friends would

not give them a hard time for using

the drug. Furthermore, nearly 40% of

young people say they have not tried to

dissuade their friends from taking Meth.

“Meth is clearly a serious problem in

Wyoming, and addressing attitudes

and correcting misperceptions about

the drug are two important keys to

prevention,” said Eichoff-Johnson,

Executive Director of Mercer House.

“Young people get information about

drugs from many different sources, but

research shows that parents are still the

most credible source of drug information

for teens. The Wyoming Meth Use &

Attitudes Survey shows that despite the

wide availability and perceived benefits

of the drug, nearly half of the young

people in Wyoming have never discussed

Meth with their parents.”

The Wyoming Meth Use & Attitudes

Survey was executed from April 18

to May 30, 2008 by GfK Roper Public

Affairs & Media, prior to the launch of the

Wyoming Meth Project’s statewide Meth

prevention campaign in June, 2008. The

survey was conducted among randomly

selected and representative samples of

909 teens, 300 young adults, and 323

parents of 12 to 19 year olds.

To view the full survey report, please visit

www.wyomingmethproject.org.

SURVEY RESULTS CONTINUED

WYOMING FOUNDATIONS PARTNER WITH METH PROJECT

Community leaders from the McMurry

Foundation, Daniels Fund, Tate Foundation,

and other foundations throughout the state

collectively developed a funding plan that

brought the award-winning Meth Project

campaign to Wyoming. “We teamed with

partners across the state to bring the Meth

Project to Wyoming because we’ve all

seen first-hand how Meth is tearing our

communities apart,” said Susie McMurry,

Co-Founder and Secretary of the McMurry

Foundation. “We all have a role to play in

reversing this situation—and we all believe

that we’ve found a prevention model that

will work.”

JEAN DAVIES NAMED WYOMING METH PROJECT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORThe Wyoming Meth Project named

Jean Davies, a well-known supporter

in the fight against methamphetamine,

as the Executive Director in April,

2008. Before joining the Wyoming

Meth Project, Davies worked at the

Wyoming Behavioral Institute for 22

years, and has been a part of Casper’s

community methamphetamine

initiative for the last six years.

In her role as the Director of Marketing

for Wyoming Behavioral Institute,

Jean was responsible for referral

development, media marketing

materials, and various other marketing

roles. Prior to working at WBI,

Jean was the Executive Director for

Wyoming Democratic Party for 5 1/2

years. Jean has served on the board of

the Wyoming Community Coalition for

Health Education, NOWCAP Human

Rights Advisory Board, American

Heart Association, and the Advisory

Board for Children’s Advocacy

Project. She is currently on the Casper

Community Meth Watch Committee,

Natrona County Suicide Prevention

task force, Wyoming Suicide

Prevention Task Force, Wyoming

Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory

Board, National Native American Youth

Suicide Prevention Board, Natrona

County Substance Abuse Providers, a

co-chair for Heart Center of Wyoming

golf tournament, and the Board of

Directors of the United Way of Natrona

County.

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